[Article] For Japan's Justin Biebers, No Selena Gomezes Allowed

[nmskalmn]

Excerpt:

The no-dating dictum can be traced back to the mid-'80s "idol" group Onyanko Club, an immensely popular lineup of schoolgirl-uniform-clad singers created by AKB48 founder Yasushi Akimoto. (In Japan, "idols" are prepackaged pop singers with choreographed moves, rabid fanbases, and pure-seeming public personas). The policy didn't lead to any scandals within Onyanko Club—an underage smoking controversy stands as that outfit's most salacious shakeup—and various members have since said they secretly dated men during their time with the group. Still, the rule maintained the singers' virginal public appearance, which was all that mattered to the suits selling records.

Since then, the no-dating prohibition has been applied to both idol groups and individual singers, and to both men and women. This year alone has seen a slew of scandals besides Sashihara's. In January, AKB48 members Natsumi Hirajima and Rumi Yonezawa resigned after photos of them with men appeared on the popular message board 2Channel (the Japanese equivalent of 4Chan). Garnering more press attention was Jin Akanishi, a member of the popular boy band KAT-TUN and a solo artist, who secretly married a woman earlier this year without telling his agency. As punishment, Akanishi was removed from a TV drama he was set to star in and also had his fan club dissolved. His career has since taken a big hit.

While plenty of non-pop entertainers are freely allowed to have normal relationships, idol groups, says Miller, are "a special category of media product." Indeed, when the leader of hugely popular act Morning Musume resigned in 2005 after being photographed walking out of a convenience store with a male actor she'd been secretly dating, she put out a statement saying she said she could no longer sustain an appropriate "idol" image. Even rumors of romance are enough to send J-Pop handlers into spin overdrive. Last year, Ayaka Nishiwaki of the successful electro-idol group Perfume was seen visiting the home of a famous male rock star late at night. Her management snuffed the story by saying with a straight face that she was merely bringing him medicine.

Read it: For Japan's Justin Biebers, No Selena Gomezes Allowed

[MeltingCORE]

Wow. I guess it makes some sense if they're viewing the idol groups as "pure" products that can't be tainted... (Still weird though imo.)

[FIRSTKLAS]

I think people fixate too much on the purity aspect of the clause and regard it as something dictorial, sexist, or archaic, etc. but I think the rule makes sense if you look at it from a security perspective, especially with the bigger groups where management can't keep a close eye on everyone.

If you have a large group of adolescents and you're not watching them, chances are at least one or two of them is going to make a bad choice, knowingly or not. Since they're young, they might not have the experience and resources to discern if a person is good for them or not. Like, what would happen if an idol were to fall for a "bad boy" type who turned out to be an actual bad boy - or something worse (stalker)?

Add to that an element of fame and ego and you have a recipe for disaster if you don't take precautions.

In the West I think it's different because we treat our celebrities differently and they're also generally removed from interaction with the public. So most likely when a celebrity dates someone, they're either another celebrity, or someone closely affiliated to the industry and there's less risk.

[SKYia]

It's really sad the no-date rule goes even for older guys, eg KinKi Kids are in their 30ies and they also cannot date, it's in their contract afair, although they just keep repeating that they don't have time for that which may also be true, but they are not 18 anymore, I guess artists like this should be allowed to have steady family and still make good music, many fans are also thier age and have their own families.

[Andrenekoi]

A big part of idols' apeal come from the fantasy of they being perfect and of the fan someday dating them... And they must be always avaliable to feed this fantasy.

[emi♡]

Personally always thought it was gross...but you know, cultural things.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

It's a stupid rule, but I mean, many of them are dating they're just good at hiding it.

Jin would have probably been fine if he was just dating Meisa, but he got her pregnant and married her, which is a bit different than just dating someone haha.

Male artist's usually end up being fine, but the girls are punished more.

[bondingo]

As a big AKB fan, I know this rule very well. To be honest, I don't agree with it either. I understand why it's in place, but it just seems so ridiculous to me sometimes.

[happiholic★]

And yet no one really cares about Kuu and event to an extent Ayu dating. Kuu getting married to and having Kenji's baby wasn't really a big splash from what I can tell. And Ayu dating Nagase wasn't an issue from what I heard. Even her marriage to Mannie was only a shock because it was quick and to a foreigner.

[bondingo]

^But that's because they aren't idols. Ayu was at one time, but she isn't anymore. The Japanese version of an idol includes mostly younger singers in groups like AKB, the Johnny's groups, voice actresses, and whatnot.

[setsuka]

I didn't like how this article didn't clearly state they were idols instead of saying a broad term of just JPOP, oops later it says the difference..

seems kinda dumb, I remember Kpop stars tried dating but so far all of them kinda died real quick I am guessing pressure from labels

the rule is dumb, I get it tho....it says more about the fans then the management tbh

[JackieRos]

I remember reading somewhere that kinki kids (forgot) cant date if they are under a contract label.