Even After 30, "No Dating"... Why Is Japanese Idol Culture Like This?

"A Culture of Seeing Idols and Fans as Part of the Same Team"
"Some Even Demand the Return of the Time and Money They Invested"

In Japan's entertainment industry, where "dating bans" have long been regarded as an unspoken rule, fans are still said to view idol members' marriages coldly. Even male idols in their late 30s reportedly face attacks for getting married.

According to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun on October 23 (local time), online personal attacks still occur in Japan whenever news breaks of an idol dating someone. The seven-member idol group WEST. also came under intense attack from some fans recently after dating rumors involving a member emerged.

Hamada Takahiro, a former member of Japanese idol group WEST., who came under fire after announcing his marriage. Instagram

In August, WEST. members Daiki Shigeoka, 34, and Hamada Takahiro, 38, announced their marriages at the same time. One of them is set to become a father soon. Some fans, however, strongly objected, saying, "They should have gotten married after quitting their idol careers." As the controversy grew, WEST. announced at the end of September that it would end its group activities.

According to the newspaper, dating and marriage among idols were once effectively taboo in Japan. It was common for agencies to require their idols to sign "dating ban clauses," and the issue was considered sensitive enough that agencies could file lawsuits seeking damages if the clauses were violated. However, as awareness of idols' working conditions has improved, the longstanding practice of dating bans has disappeared. "As far as I know, I don't think there are any agencies that ban dating anymore," one person in the idol industry told the newspaper.

The problem is that fans' attitudes have not changed much. "If dating bans used to be a source of conflict between agencies and idols, now they are a source of conflict between idols and fans," the industry insider explained.

Mana Kamioka, a former idol who now works as a sociology researcher and studies issues involving Japanese idols, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "This reflects the longstanding belief that idols must maintain a flawless image, a belief that fans have adopted as well." She added, "There is a perception that idols can only receive a perfect score if they have no scandals."

"Fans passionately support idols as they rise to stardom and come to see them as if they were on the 'same team,'" she said. "The shock and anger that follow revelations about idols' private lives create a gap between the image fans have built up while supporting them and the reality." Some fans reportedly demand refunds on social media after idols announce their marriages or relationships, saying, "Give me back the time and money I invested."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.