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The story
On the Hello! Project subforum, a debate broke out over why Hello! Project group Tsubaki Factory isn’t selling better. Some praised the members’ visuals and talent, but plenty of others pointed to the group’s low name recognition and weak songs. What really caught attention was a strange reversal: regional shows keep selling out one after another, while Tokyo and Osaka venues can’t sell out even after opening a second round of ticket sales. Some suggested this might trace back to fewer regional stops on this summer’s tour and fans cutting back on travel due to rising prices.
What people said
Looks alone don't sell in this business
Nogizaka46
Checkmate
Fox Dance together with everyone from Tsubaki Factory
🦊🌺
After the game: special 〈AFTER GAME〉 live show🎤
#TsubakiEscon @tsubakifac_uf
#lovefighters
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2101561765280743425/vid/avc1/1280×720/rD9RgIA-FLk4bQG7.mp4
Nobody even knows them enough to avoid them
They don't even know them, let alone avoid them
That's even lamer
Go outside and you'll see
If she's not going to, they need to cut her stage time way down
All three bring something different to the table
Such a waste somehow
Though it means nothing if they don't get singing parts
For Tsubaki fans what matters is handshake-event charm, not singing
The Power Dancer
The All-Rounder
Seems to land with the old-guy fans though
Somebody needs to rethink that take
The songs are good, and being on Sony means they get a push too
Checkmate
The songs are good? lol give me a break, that's just not happening
Like OCHA NORMA's got Kirara and Momo
Or Juice=Juice's got Danbara
Tsubaki's got a decent overall level but no single strong ace
That said they're probably selling better than before
Recent tours sold out Fukuoka and Ehime
They never used to sell out regional shows in the past
Yet they're going with the wrong strategy of shrinking the tour anyway
Yet they're skipping it in fall — what a mixed signal
Spring was just easy to get to, that's all — there aren't many diehard fans, so fall isn't selling
Dunno where they played, but it was probably Otaru or Penny Lane, right?
Would like to see them sell out a venue in the 1,000-capacity range
that's the whole story
Places that are easier to reach than Hokkaido are the ones not selling though
Most of those shows sell out
Meanwhile there's this odd phenomenon where Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya don't sell out even with a second round
Sure, capacities differ, but even accounting for population, Tokyo and Osaka are underselling way too much
Possible reasons:
Summer Hello! dropped its regional stops, so there's less chance to see them there
Lower-tier groups don't do full nationwide tours much anymore, cutting viewing opportunities
Rising prices mean fewer people traveling from the regions to Tokyo/Osaka
In other words, live shows have dropped sharply in the regions, so fans are flocking to what's left there, while rising costs are keeping people from traveling to Tokyo and Osaka
Huh, that's pretty interesting actually
https://imgur.com/lTIUJM7.jpeg
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
In recent years, Hello! Project has noticeably scaled back its summer nationwide tours and cut regional dates, creating a structure where fan turnout trends can diverge sharply between big cities and rural areas. Posters in the thread pointed out that major venues in Tokyo and Osaka fail to sell out even after opening a second round of ticket sales, while regional shows often sell out in the first round alone — a gap they attributed to rising travel costs and uneven opportunities to attend events. Opinions were split on the members’ talent and the quality of the songs: some praised the high caliber of the members, while others firmly held that the group suffers from poor name recognition and weak material. It’s worth noting that the turnout trends and sellout figures discussed here are based on posters’ personal impressions and anecdotal sightings, not officially published sales data.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “I don’t get why Tsubaki Factory doesn’t sell.”
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