The
entertainment industry in Japan has always been known for having extremely
strict regulations with its talents, but a recent case has just crossed the
line into the absurd. The agency behind the musical group Kagayaki
Panic announced the immediate expulsion of three of its members,
sparking a huge controversy not because of the dismissal itself, but because of
the reasons behind the decision. While singer Momona Kurusu was removed from
the project for interacting with her followers in private, a fairly common
reason in this sector, the reasons for expelling her co-stars Hirono Ichinose
and Nemu left the entire internet completely disturbed.
A rule
that seems to come out of a prison
To
understand the magnitude of the problem, you have to pay attention to the
apology message that Ichinose herself published. In her statement, the young
singer admitted to feeling extremely sorry for having given in to her wishes
and having had private interactions with her own bandmates. It turns out that
the agency has a total isolation policy, where it is strictly forbidden for the
members to communicate, interact or form friendships outside of rehearsals and
official presentations. Any type of contact that is not directly supervised by
the management team is considered a serious offense that merits the automatic
termination of the employment contract.
The
indignation of the public was not long in coming
As
expected, the reaction of the community was one of absolute rejection towards
the company. In the main discussion forums, followers pointed out that these
working conditions are inhumane and compared the regulations to the rules of a
penitentiary. Many users theorized that this ban exists to prevent singers from
joining in to complain about poor working conditions or share information about
their contracts. It's incredibly sad to think that these young women spend
hours practicing choreography and smiling together on stage, but they're
forbidden to speak to each other as soon as the lights go out.
This
incident puts a spotlight back on the extreme control tactics that some
agencies use to dominate every aspect of their talents' lives. Knowing that
mental health is an increasingly discussed topic in the industry
