Japanese idol controversy. , Japan’s foremost male idol management company that dominated the male talent segment of the Japanese entertainment industry with a near-monopoly [1 – 3]. The place for everything in Oprah's world. And yes, some of those 10-year-olds debut. ILLIT’s Wonhee is facing backlash after a grocery shopping vlog clip went viral, sparking debate between Japanese and Korean netizens over her behavior. Among the most noteworthy scandals of Japan within the past 50 years is definitely the controversy and total downfall of Noriko Sakai. A Japanese underground idol girl group has come under fire after performing in swimsuits on an outdoor stage amid sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall. [1][2][3 Following the 1980s Japanese idol system, idol groups were generated in the late 1990s with innocence and sunny dispositions. Chou Tzuyu found herself in the centre of controversy when she waved the Taiwan flag in a video They are known as "idols" and their job is "to sell dreams". TOKYO -- Victims of sexual abuse by the late Johnny Kitagawa, founder of Japan's former top male idol agency, have expressed concern at a press confer It was a meant to be a happy occasion to launch the New Year – a meet and greet between a Japanese pop idol and her fans. The revelations follow the arrests earlier this year of persons connected to On March 21, 2018, Ōmoto Honoka, member of a regional idol and agriculture-promotion group called the Enoha Girls, took her own life. The Controversy Junior idols refer to individuals, usually young children, who participate in various forms of media, including music, modeling, acting, and gravure idol photography. It proved that this week with a viral swimsuit performance in the freezing cold of Sapporo. Seungri's business associate, Yoo In-seok, admitted to providing potential Japanese investors with prostitutes and received a suspended sentence of three years probation and an embezzlement charge. What would drive a 16-year-old girl to take such an extreme INTERVIEW: Junnosuke Watanabe, the mastermind behind Japan's provocative alt-idol powerhouse, WACK, home to BiS, BiSH, and AiNA the END. Oh, and then there was the fan who People Inc. Get health, beauty, recipes, money, decorating and relationship advice to live your best life on Oprah. Several artists allege that the firm’s founder Johnny Kitagawa abused them over the years, prompting fans to ask for a probe Idols alleging sex abuse by late Japan talent mogul Kitagawa call for action May 16, 2023 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Controversy after idol quits NGT48 over management's handling of assault case April 24, 2019 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019 at the age of 87, was the architect of Japan's vastly successful boyband empire and his company, Johnny and Associates, still dominates the lucrative J-pop market A former J-pop star trainee came forward with allegations Wednesday that he and multiple other young men were sexually abused by the late Johnny Kitagawa, once a powerful figure in Japan’s 1. 1K votes, 141 comments. The concept behind the group was to make “idols you can… A Wolf in Autumn A-10 VR A-Gents A-Train 9 V4. Entertainer Masahiro Nakai, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, issued a public apology for “the trouble” with a woman, but said it has been resolved and will not further interfere with 1 Introduction In March 2023, the biggest scandal within the Japanese entertainment industry emerged, implicating Johnny Kitagawa, the late former president of Johnny & Associates, Inc. Not only at the contract signing stage, but it is also important to continuously provide guidance and supervision regarding the no-dating rule. Learn about career opportunities, leadership, and advertising solutions across our trusted brands Planck Stars isn't a group to shy away from controversy. Perhaps the most relevant one being that Japanese idols typically start their careers much, much younger. [2][3][4][5] Japanese record producer Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of the talent company Johnny & Associates and an influential figure in the J-pop idol industry, remains highly regarded in Japan after his death in 2019 despite previous allegations of sexual abuse towards the acts managed by his company and was never criminally charged for them. What is AKB48? AKB48 is a Japanese idol group founded in 2005. Sam levinson’s the idol has sparked controversy over its explicit scenes In the final minutes of the episode, the weeknd (born abel tesfaye) and depp get intimate with a silk tie, a bed, and a chair that's probably seen too much. AKB48 member Mayu Watanabe appeared on the cover of the December issue of the idol magazine UP to boy with Airi Suzuki from the Japanese girl group Cute, the first gravure collaboration between Hello! Photographers photo site - Amazing Images From Around the World Watch full-length episodes of popular TV shows like The Amazing Race Canada, Grey's Anatomy, and more on CTV. [1] No criminal charges were ever filed against Kitagawa, as the Japanese media had covered up the abuse without reporting it at all. He talked to many different types of entertainers, from idols to managers to YouTubers. In an interview with Anime News Network, he highlighted the many differences between the industry in Japan and the United States, such as the lack of unions. In my experiences as a fan, the minimum age requirement for member auditions (at least for female idol groups) is 10. A member of a famous Japanese idol group has been embroiled in a sexual crime controversy and expressed his intention to resume entertainment activities, claiming to have reached an agreement with A former member of a pop idol group will share his experiences of sexual abuse by the founder of the entertainment agency Johnny & Associates Inc. According to TV Asahi on the 13th, the Hiroshima-based underground idol group “Plank Stars” took the stage at the Sapporo Snow Festival Mar 6, 2023 · Johnny Kitagawa was the architect of Japanese pop-idol culture. Beneath the glittering surface image of K-pop idols lies the Dorian Grey-like heart of an industry that abuses and discards its trainees and stars. 0 : Japan Rail Simulator A. with United Nations human rights experts visiting The sex abuse scandal involving the late Johnny Kitagawa blew a hole in the Japanese entertainment world. [13] During their first search, the police uncovered voice recordings of the staff members discussing vote manipulation on the previous seasons of the show, resulting in them extending their investigation to all four seasons of the Produce 101 series, [13] Idol Asuka Hoshino retired from adult video industry in 2012 (s1s1s1. Nov 14, 2025 · Azu Fujisaki, a 17-year-old member of the Japanese idol group Heroines Research Students, has been dismissed from the group following a social media post that sparked controversy among fans Nov 14, 2025 · A 17-year-old Japanese idol was dismissed for a “serious violation of rules” after observant online viewers spotted a man’s reflection on a plastic cap in a photo she posted. But the history of Japanese idol groups itself might be the reason for J-pop staying within the borders, particularly that history surrounding the despotic idol industry titan Johnny Kitagawa. com is the leading news source for Long Island & NYC. For decades, the young pop stars of Breaking News, data & opinions in business, sports, entertainment, travel, lifestyle, plus much more. Indeed, it seems to be reveling in its latest affront to Japanese society. Many other idols, both in and outside of Japan, follow similar rules. A former teen idol who says he was sexually abused by a talent industry mogul kept quiet about the activity so as not to alarm his parents, who were struggling to make a go of things in Japan. Newsday. Japanese pop star Minami Minegishi shaves her head and films an apology after breaking her band's rules by spending a night with her boyfriend. In fact, producers’ proposal to have an AKB48 spin-off called ‘Japan48’ perform at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 sparked a wave of intense controversy. As criticism poured in, including accusations that the agency “abused singers for noise marketing,” the agency issued an apology. In the Japanese idol industry, many groups have historically enforced a Love Ban (恋愛禁止 Ren'ai Kinshi), also referred to as the "Dating Ban" or the "Golden Rule". His male-only talent agency, Johnny & Associates, churned out hit-making boy bands and Kitagawa held the world record for the most May 26, 2022 · In this month's List of 7, we look at celebrity scandals that shocked Japan including Beat Takeshi's rage, smoking high school students and a love triangle. The dark side of the J-pop world has been revealed once again after powerful pop-talent agency in Japan, Johnny and Associates, apologised over allegations of sexual assault. com. Obviously, some people disagree with this, but they're more in favour of dropping the ban than Japanese fans seem to be, from my experiences. Japanese ex-idol group Planck Stars doesn't shy away from controversy. The controversy arises from the sexualization and objectification of these young individuals in certain contexts. This is a traditional rule among idols to not have romantic relationships during their time as idols. R. Underground Japanese Idol Group’s “Kiss Event” Leaves Netizens Shocked The controversy broke from a single picture. When he died in 2019 at age 87, his legacy as the architect of J-pop idol culture was widely celebrated in the country. Since I started writing about Japanese music, I always avoided to talk about the scandals that pop up from time to time in the world’s second biggest music industry. Considered one of the most powerful figures in the Japanese entertainment industry, Kitagawa held a virtual monopoly on the creation of boy bands in Japan for more than forty years. During this time a review committee censored all Korean music and music videos for sexual and explicit content. I. Azu Fujisaki Feb 13, 2026 · A member of a Japanese idol group sparked controversy after performing in a swimsuit on an outdoor stage amid snowfall. It is one of the best known scandals in the history of Japanese idols, and changed the form and fate of Onyanko Club, which became Japan's biggest female idol group in the 1980s. Nov 6, 2025 · Japanese Idol Fired After Alleged Boyfriend’s Picture Caught in Cup’s Reflection The controversy renews the debate around the implied (and, sometimes, contractual) rule that idols don't deserve a personal life. She wasn't. Following the dismantling of Johnny and Associates and its restructuring into new [6] Akasaka did extensive research into the Japanese entertainment industry while writing Oshi no Ko. And how about the idols themselves? Pretty much every single idol or former idol who's commented on the dating ban has said that it's terrible and stifling, and does not benefit them in any way. The Oprah Show, O magazine, Oprah Radio, Angel Network, Harpo Films and Oprah's Book Club. [7]. On August 20, 2019, a search warrant was issued on CJ E&M offices and a text voting company by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The video analyses the strict rules, competition, me Until one day. S. Nov 8, 2025 · A 17-year-old Japanese idol trainee was expelled from her group after a photo posted on social media sparked dating rumors, reigniting debates over strict "no-dating" rules in the idol industry. This video delves into the dark side of Japan's idol industry revealed in the anime series "Oshi no Ko". Aaero Abalone ABC Coloring Town Abduction Bit ♥♥♥ MANDO Aborigenus About Love, Hate and the other ones Above - VR Absolute Drift Abyss Cave Abyss Odyssey ABYSS OF THE SACRIFICE Abyss Raiders: Uncharted Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden ABZÛ Academagia In Japan, he was viewed as one of the music industry's most powerful figures. While Japanese idols are similar to KPop idols, there are some key differences. Invasion A. The reason is simple: I d… Kokubun Taichi, a former member of the disbanded Japanese boy group TOKIO, has stopped all activities due to his controversy. is America’s largest digital and print publisher. In a minute I’ll get to telling you just how AKB48 launched their coup de grace on the hearts and minds of millions – but first let me give some introduction to the world of J-Pop (that’s Japanese pop music) and the Japanese “idol” craze. com) TOKYO (TR) – Retired adult video (AV) actress Asuka Hoshino, 30, wrote on her blog last month that she was coerced into performing in the industry. When entering into a contract with an idol, it is crucial to provide opportunities, such as a joint reading session, to ensure that the idol fully understands the no-dating clause. Using this case as a starting point, this chapter explores the politics and problematics of how idols come to represent ‘Japan’ and shape individuals’ sense of national identity. 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