Come oooon, guys. Let's contact Shiina!

[Scribble R]

If this was a Western artist, I wouldn't be bothered, but since Shiina Ringo is so, like, contained in Japan, she may not have any idea that we exist. I'm curious to see if we'd actually get a response (Outside generic email), and she could read it and think "Oh, shit, I do really need to leave TJ!" (=P)

Of course, someone would have to translate it, and I dunno who would be up to the task =X

Tell me if this sounds disturbing =P

[Osiris12345]

I'm for it. Unfortunately my knowledge of Japanese is next to nothing.

[Scribble R]

If we can't translate it, we could just use the English that Shiina's used herself:

"I'll never be able to give up on you, so never say goodbye and make 加爾基　精液　栗ノ花, once again.

Scribble R, London"

[fluffiethesock]

If we're just saying "hi, we exist," that's cool. But if you want us as a group to tell her to go solo permanently, then I think we definitely should not do that. Many people, obviously including myself, enjoy Tokyo Jihen, and right now she's alternating between solo and band stuff, so everyone is getting what they want. Now Scribble, if you were to cause Ringo to abandon my favorite band to poop out some more mediocre solo music, I would probably end up strapping explosives to myself and taking us both out. I assume you're not too serious about telling her to quit Jihen, but either way I think it's a bad idea.

[Scribble R]

fluffie: I kid, I kid.

It would be more of a 'hi, I exist' thing, with the obligatory "I liked that album or that lyric or that concert" and "My friend was shocked about how talented you are" and "Please make more music in the future!" kind of deal, and the occasional... opinionated (but nice) comment.

I don't know how realistic it is to think it'll get through to her. I mean, isn't she like an 'A-List' star over there? But no harm in trying, right? And since she's constantly talking about the fans, maybe she's one of those celebs that actually likes to keep in touch with them.

[kuro_neko]

Ringo has an extremely old official site in English and kronekodown was given an entirely English component. Go to any Ringo/Jihen show and you see a whole bunch of foreign fans. I am 110% positive Ringo knows her fans aren't all Japanese. She probably doesn't think she has a large fan base outside of Asia, but in reality, she doesn't really, does she? She could come to the US and play a few shows and they would fill up but the type of crowd that would be there would probably be pretty upsetting. I've written in Ringo's journal in Japanese concerning foreign fans and I know some other people did too. She knows, the problem is she probably doesn't care about ever leaving her comfy little nest in japan. she has a family and a succesful lucrative career already, why would she want to leave?

[Scribble R]

Hmm...So bad idea? =(

[s3r3nity]

I was thinking about this.
She has done quite a few songs entirely in English, 2 of which have appeared on her most recent album, and she has collaborated with Utada Hikaru, who has attempted to make herself a known presence in the West. Whether this points to her too wanting to do something in the West, or not, is obviously disputable. But I think she does know that we exist.

EDIT:
Well, re-reading this...it has very little to do with the topic at hand, since you're not asking for shows in America, you're more wanting to get our opinion in as Americans. Woops. :/

[Positron]

We would probably have to limit ourselves to a simple "Hello, we're here and we like you music!" sort of message, maybe add some cool fan stuff.

Unless you want to go all-out in a similar fashion to Starmen.net's PK Siege Japan... =/

[bromithia]

That would be cool if she responded to whatever is said.