On July 27, the administration of the idol
group KATACOTO
* BANK announced via Twitter the sanctions imposed on
Momoka Tojo, a member of the group, after she accidentally posted a photo with
her boyfriend . The incident occurred on July 26, when Tojo, 20,
shared an image showing a birthday celebration with his partner. This act
caused rapid spread on the internet and a heated debate about the expectations
and restrictions imposed on idols in Japan.
The administration revealed that the man in the
photo is a “civil boyfriend” of Tojo and that, after consulting with her, it
was decided to impose several disciplinary measures. The sanctions
included the obligation to maintain a certain distance from her partner
and publish a daily night photo titled “good night alone” for a year. Management
also urged fans to report any suspicions that her boyfriend was present in the
photos.
- First
“good night solo” photograph by Momoka Tojo, as one of the sanctions
imposed by her agency. Tojo will have to do this daily for a year
if he wants to stay in the group.
The reaction from the online community
has been one of outrage and bewilderment. Many
consider the sanctions to be excessive and reflect a deeper problem within idol
culture. Comments such as “ Idol culture is so broken it's beyond my
understanding ” and “ It's like a 1984 level of control ”
highlight concerns about the degree of control agencies exert over idols'
personal lives. Some users even suggested that the restrictions imposed
are “nightmarish” and expressed concern about possible abuses behind closed
doors .
Tojo, who joined KATACOTO*BANK in June
2024, issued a public apology on his Twitter account, expressing his regret for
any inconvenience caused to the group's fans and team. He
promised to strive to regain the trust of his fans and contribute positively to
the group in the future.
The case has once again highlighted the
strict regulation of idols' personal lives in Japan and
has generated a debate about the need for stricter oversight of human rights
within the entertainment industry. Tojo's situation is seen as an extreme
example of the unrealistic expectations and restrictions idols face, not
only in Japan, but also in other parts of Asia, such as South Korea.
This controversy has also led some to reflect
on the degree of control exercised over other public figures, such as
news anchors and voice actors , underscoring the widespread influence
of these practices on the entertainment industry as a whole.
Source: Reddit
