On June 4,
an online complaint began to circulate. On June 6, Kuwabara Sei,
music producer of Ensemble Stars!!, confirmed the central
points of that complaint and submitted his resignation. There's not much else
to add to the summary: the producer responsible for much of the game's musical
identity hid that he was married with children while in a relationship with a
fan.
In his
statement, Kuwabara acknowledged that not all of the details circulating in the
reports were accurate, but admitted that the main points were true. He
described his conduct as unethical, irresponsible, and dishonorable, and
apologized to everyone involved with the projects he produced, to the
characters, and to the fans who supported them. He announced that he had
offered his resignation as music producer of Ensemble Stars!! and
that it was accepted. On other production projects he handles and his
activities with his band, he said that the details will be defined with the
relevant parties and that there will be updates when appropriate. He also asked
that unconfirmed information and personal data not be disseminated, mentioning
the need to protect the privacy and security of his family and the people
involved.
The company
behind his music production label, Arte Refact (operated by
Memento mori), issued its own statement confirming that the central facts of
the allegations were correct, although some details differed from the reports.
The company called the use of its position and facilities for personal matters
unacceptable conduct, and announced that it will work to improve its internal
management systems. He clarified that the matter is personal to Kuwabara and
has no relationship with other employees or creators affiliated with the label,
and also ruled out that the recent departures of several creators were linked
to this situation.
The
band Sir Vanity, of which Kuwabara is a part, released a statement
apologizing for the inconvenience caused and informing that they are in talks
about the release of their first EP titled "puzzle", scheduled
for July 8, as well as about the already announced live events and
future activities. Updates will arrive through official channels once finales decisions are made.
About
Ensemble Stars!!
¡¡Ensemble Stars!! is a
rhythm and idol management game developed by Happy Elements that
has built a sizable fan base since its release. The franchise includes multiple
installments of the game, anime adaptations, and an extensive discography that
is a central part of the experience. Kuwabara Sei was a
prominent figure in the project's musical direction for years, contributing to
numerous songs that became part of the game's identity and its animated
adaptations. His departure represents a significant change for the musical direction
of Ensemble Stars!! from here on out.
