JAV Gossips

Lim3lighT

Member
Mar 24, 2014
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Right! I became a big fan of hers and even I could forget such details.

Similarly Yua Mikami (as whatever her name was in SKE48) also was forced out after a "dating scandal", a code word for selling sex.

I am pretty convinced that "selling sex" was NOT the real reason Yua and Shoko were fired. The real reason is "selling sex on their own".
Actually pretty sure Yua's case was actually dating. Pics of her and her bf lying on a bed together, but also on dates at restaurants and shit. The guy wasn't famous and wasn't connected at all, and even if you believe that all/most idols have sex for benefits they're definitely not having sex with randoms; too easy for shit to get leaked. That's not escorting. It was that compounded with the fact that it wasn't the first time she got caught or her first scandal ever (a previous one is where she got a social media account discovered and she was badmouthing the group) that got her kicked out.

Not even just selling sex on their own but just getting caught, even if it was on an agency date. As for the extent it's hard to tell; definitely some but maybe not all and definitely not just regular prostituting (too easy for fans to find out and bust them). More like sexual favors for magazine editors, heads/marketing heads of companies to get sponsorship deals, etc.). There's also like, almost no proof that it happens except for minor instances (Matsumura Sayuri getting caught on a "date" with a magazine editor, for instance), so anyone saying that they're forced into it is speculation; it's equally as likely that they're presented with those deals and told that if they don't do it they don't get the sponsorship/ad deal/magazine appearance or won't be "pushed"-show up on group tv shows, appear in singles, etc.
 

ding73ding

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Oct 25, 2009
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Well certainly no one is suggesting that Yua or Shoko or "many" celebs are/were selling sex in the open. There were a few isolated cases, what I heard about was one quite famous AV idol (whose name escaped me for now) who were advertised on an escort service website for some weeks. But it's clear that those are exception which prove the exceptions.

I still don't buy the Yua's "dating" story. I think it's common enough that some idols (except for those still so young and new to industry that they have to allow their private life be TOTALLY managed) do have a private life including BF and/or co-habitation. Of course they have to make some careful arrangement so the private life and public life doesn't cross each other. Just recently Tia exposed (??) she is a mother and another idol tells that she has a BF, and not only that, their disclosure suggest it's in reality a common thing. So idols (AV or mainstream) having BF, husband or kids are perhaps not uncommon, only that the industry and idols cooperate to keep secret and maintain the fantasy.

So maybe it's possible that Yua really had a BF and caught. More likely I think it's entirely possible to hide the BF and the studio/agency boss can just come out and "officially" deny it and that's that. No matter how many photos leaked if she and studio deny it, it's possible to wait it out. More believable is the studio/agency CHOSE not to support her, either her market value (freshness) was almost used up, or she's being uncooperative (she has that reputation before). I could even believe that her agent or some crew member, under suggestion by the boss, opened her phone (maybe stole her passcode) and stole some private photos to leak in order to get rid of her.

Or it's also believable is that she's getting some compensation (anywhere between big wad of cash to more "subtle" gifts like jewelry and handbags). In the Asian (at least in TW/HK/CN) celeb world, the line between BF and client can be very blurry. But if she received BF/client outside of agency arrangement surely the boss would be mad. Further, seeing how she's made an extremely successful career in AV, it's not like she was a sweet innocent girl with a normal (non-client) BF who would not sell her body and suddenly become a top star known to every fapper in Japan.
 

Supmop

Akiba Citizen
Oct 23, 2012
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I'm not saying they're all guilty but at this point it's undeniable that this is a thing that happens. You could have a similar debate about r*** but just as with r*** I'd rather err on the side of the victim than the accused. It's a shame that it happens, but just because there are some assholes who would do something as terrible as to lie about coercion doesn't mean we should immediately treat every case that comes out as false either.

in porn its not easy to tell who is the victim :D

from many cases so far only few who can bring solid strong evidence, lets wait and see who else can bring strong evidence to support their accussation
 

thuleviolenta

Member
Apr 5, 2008
78
8
well in the prostitution case of melo imai..some rather "clear" pics were made..(so i doubt it makes much sense to deny it?) ..in the case of shoko i didnt even see <any< pics so it seems kinda "foggy"...though i guess the rumor might be true but she denies it to "save face".. .i just wouldnt mind to see some "harder evidence" than a ..well "somebody claimed...."
 

Lim3lighT

Member
Mar 24, 2014
85
36
Well certainly no one is suggesting that Yua or Shoko or "many" celebs are/were selling sex in the open. There were a few isolated cases, what I heard about was one quite famous AV idol (whose name escaped me for now) who were advertised on an escort service website for some weeks. But it's clear that those are exception which prove the exceptions.

I still don't buy the Yua's "dating" story. I think it's common enough that some idols (except for those still so young and new to industry that they have to allow their private life be TOTALLY managed) do have a private life including BF and/or co-habitation. Of course they have to make some careful arrangement so the private life and public life doesn't cross each other. Just recently Tia exposed (??) she is a mother and another idol tells that she has a BF, and not only that, their disclosure suggest it's in reality a common thing. So idols (AV or mainstream) having BF, husband or kids are perhaps not uncommon, only that the industry and idols cooperate to keep secret and maintain the fantasy.

So maybe it's possible that Yua really had a BF and caught. More likely I think it's entirely possible to hide the BF and the studio/agency boss can just come out and "officially" deny it and that's that. No matter how many photos leaked if she and studio deny it, it's possible to wait it out. More believable is the studio/agency CHOSE not to support her, either her market value (freshness) was almost used up, or she's being uncooperative (she has that reputation before). I could even believe that her agent or some crew member, under suggestion by the boss, opened her phone (maybe stole her passcode) and stole some private photos to leak in order to get rid of her.

Or it's also believable is that she's getting some compensation (anywhere between big wad of cash to more "subtle" gifts like jewelry and handbags). In the Asian (at least in TW/HK/CN) celeb world, the line between BF and client can be very blurry. But if she received BF/client outside of agency arrangement surely the boss would be mad. Further, seeing how she's made an extremely successful career in AV, it's not like she was a sweet innocent girl with a normal (non-client) BF who would not sell her body and suddenly become a top star known to every fapper in Japan.
A lot harder to hide the BF when there's pics of the two of them hanging out on her bed together, when her social media account included old posts that said stuff like "it's about time I get a boyfriend again" etc. Yea they could have ignored it if she was more popular (they have done so for other idols), but like I said it's not like she was ever popular, it's better to kick her out and pretend like they strictly enforce their rules. And like I said, it's a lot easier to believe that it was compensated dating if the guy was famous/rich, but he was just some random dude. Very hard to believe that a random guy off the street would be able to pay for sex with an idol.

I'm not arguing she was innocent either lol. The thing to remember is that she didn't turn to AV immediately, and apparently she was paid so much money to do so that she's now pretty rich (on a tv show talked about having enough money that she lives in a really nice district of Tokyo)
well in the prostitution case of melo imai..some rather "clear" pics were made..(so i doubt it makes much sense to deny it?) ..in the case of shoko i didnt even see <any< pics so it seems kinda "foggy"...though i guess the rumor might be true but she denies it to "save face".. .i just wouldnt mind to see some "harder evidence" than a ..well "somebody claimed...."
There was supposedly a leaked video. I haven't searched enough to find it but I did find a comparison pic where some dude went through and proved that the "Shoko" in the video was wearing a dress Shoko had worn before, same phone case, same bag, and the girl looked quite similar.
shoko-takasaki-enjo-kosai-prostitution-sex-scandal.jpg
 

thuleviolenta

Member
Apr 5, 2008
78
8
it would be interesting to see (supposedly leaked?) full video, the picture comparison shows just that shoko wears "the same dress" ..oh well not to impressive..i guess it can be boiled down to "believe it..or not.."
 

darksider59

Akiba Citizen
Feb 24, 2014
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Actually pretty sure Yua's case was actually dating. Pics of her and her bf lying on a bed together, but also on dates at restaurants and shit. The guy wasn't famous and wasn't connected at all, and even if you believe that all/most idols have sex for benefits they're definitely not having sex with randoms; too easy for shit to get leaked. That's not escorting. It was that compounded with the fact that it wasn't the first time she got caught or her first scandal ever (a previous one is where she got a social media account discovered and she was badmouthing the group) that got her kicked out.

In popular idol groups, it's better for the business to show girls as "fans gf" rather than "allow" the girls to have private life. Each time an AKB girl is caught dating, it's a big thing (less now than before I think).

Like you said, Yua was probably dating this guy. It's like one girl from Nogizaka 46 who was dating a guy, but the guy was married with kids. She was already over 20 but her excuse was so dumb "I was drunk so I kissed him and hang out with him". I laughed so hard when I read that. Some girls looks like they are adult (magazine appearances etc...) but in real life, they act like a 15 y/o.
 

ding73ding

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Oct 25, 2009
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June 3, 2017: Fighting for Retired Idols, Agencies sue Studios

It's common knowledge that AV industry consists of different companies working together. Studios make the vids, agencies manage and provide the actresses for the film making.

On the surface it may seems the studios holds the cards, they own the production and the recent forced-AV-idols scandals seem to hit at the reputation of the agencies. Also for the contract girls, the agency may in theory represent the girl but if she's signed an exclusive contract with a studio then the studio is in the dominant position vs. the agency. Take an example of Chinami Ito (伊東ちなみ) who's represented by Cruse Group and contract girl with Moodyz, when inviting her for promotional events it's necessary to get the approval of the studio Moodyz and they even demand to check the detailed programme of the event.

But the submissive position of the agencies may be changing. The scandals have trigger a tidal shift in the AV ecology and the agencies are launching a counter action. How is that possible, the scandals initiated from several agencies, including a major one. How are they in position to make wave now?

Well in fact the studios weren't innocent of the sins of the agencies. If the agencies let out all the inside dirt, the studios will be in hot water too. So it's not in their interest to squeeze the agencies any harder. Recently the agencies have come together to form a trade organization 「プロダクション协会」 Productions Association to address problems faced by the industry. [amazingly it seems the agencies haven't been talking to each other until now??] At the first meetings, it become apparent that the studios have been ruthlessly squeezing the agencies. So some of the bigger agencies are starting to make wave.

The top complaint by the agencies is the profit sharing. For example, the studios pocket all the sales from releasing compilation vids. The agencies [and actresses] get not a single yen from those sales. Another issues that drives the agencies crazy is the release of compilation vids or never-before-released scenes of retired actresses. Many of the retirees have since been married and/or don't wish to have any more exposure in porn shops and online. In the past, the studios feel no obligation to anyone else except to make profit with whatever films or scenes on hand. Now there have been cases of agencies suing the studio or banning the studios [by refusing to provide actresses to that studio in the future] who don't respect the wishes of retired actresses.

So the buzz is that studios have become much more cooperative recently. As the agencies are trying to spin a positive story out of a bad situation: the scandals have now encouraged a more friendly cooperation environment between agencies and studios. One concrete measure is that a filming session would be halted unless a declaration by the actresses agreeing to an AV production [I assume it means each filming session require a separate, freshly signed declaration] is properly signed. Without the paperworks in order, even if the girl personally shows up at the filming location, production would not proceed. So the chaotic ways may be giving way to more fair and square practices.
 
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ssj3joey

#1 AV Fan
Oct 1, 2007
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A lot harder to hide the BF when there's pics of the two of them hanging out on her bed together, when her social media account included old posts that said stuff like "it's about time I get a boyfriend again" etc. Yea they could have ignored it if she was more popular (they have done so for other idols), but like I said it's not like she was ever popular, it's better to kick her out and pretend like they strictly enforce their rules. And like I said, it's a lot easier to believe that it was compensated dating if the guy was famous/rich, but he was just some random dude. Very hard to believe that a random guy off the street would be able to pay for sex with an idol.

I'm not arguing she was innocent either lol. The thing to remember is that she didn't turn to AV immediately, and apparently she was paid so much money to do so that she's now pretty rich (on a tv show talked about having enough money that she lives in a really nice district of Tokyo)

There was supposedly a leaked video. I haven't searched enough to find it but I did find a comparison pic where some dude went through and proved that the "Shoko" in the video was wearing a dress Shoko had worn before, same phone case, same bag, and the girl looked quite similar.
shoko-takasaki-enjo-kosai-prostitution-sex-scandal.jpg

This shoko one is conclusive imho. she was doing compensated dating.
 

Inertia

Akiba Citizen
Apr 2, 2015
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OK, I don't see why agencies should be complaining about not being paid for compilation vids. The actress is getting paid (with agency getting their MASSIVE cut) for their time on set resulting in filmed footage. If the studio wishes to rehash it again and again in future compilation/best releases, then that's that. Agency shouldn't get a cut as they already were paid their share during the initial filming.
 

ding73ding

Akiba Citizen
Oct 25, 2009
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OK, I don't see why agencies should be complaining about not being paid for compilation vids. The actress is getting paid (with agency getting their MASSIVE cut) for their time on set resulting in filmed footage. If the studio wishes to rehash it again and again in future compilation/best releases, then that's that. Agency shouldn't get a cut as they already were paid their share during the initial filming.
Speaking as myself...

In such kind of business negotiation, there's no right and wrong. It's just each sides trying to get a bigger share of the pie. If the agencies feel that whatever profit sharing schemes that worked in the past is no longer acceptable, they might try to negotiate a better deal. Or just walk away from the deal. What is fair is only decided by what deal can be made acceptable for both sides.

It's also very possible that the original writer was slightly (perhaps unconsciously) biased towards the agency. His job (or his business) is to organize events (promo) so he's working with agents and managers all the time, and he's hearing their side of the story all the time.

Given that background, I think he's generally fair in his writing. He doesn't automatically takes the agencies' side of the story. Basically he write what he knows and sees and hears, and there's a certain bias embedded in his position, but he doesn't hide it. One major bias is that he never talk about the distributors, I guess because he doesn't deal with them in his job. If you read him (and my translation) for a few months, you learn to appreciate the subtle angles that different sides take.

The main story isn't that studios are bad and agencies are fighting back. The story is that there is a shift in the industry and of course it will take time to shake things out, how it will end up no one can know now. The fight over compilation vids may be a major war or it could fade into nothing. It seems to be evolving now and we will just have to wait and see.
 
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Lim3lighT

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Mar 24, 2014
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Definitely agree. Personally I'm down for actresses getting paid more, since everything we hear about is how they really don't get paid a ton unless they're top tier (which also explains why so many of them join idol groups, sell worn underwear, work at hostess clubs/soaplands etc), but it's not really a moral argument but a business one.
 

ding73ding

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Oct 25, 2009
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May 25 2017: Kaname Ootori 凰かなめ: Why hide it? I have a boyfriend

What's plaguing managers nowadays? Some insiders say that young girls are harder and harder to manage. [compared to past generations of idols] young people have their own ideas and tend to ignore manager's advice. We have reported on some willful young idols causing managers lots of headaches.

Kaname Ootori debuted in September last year, but even before that she launched her own Youtube channel, and now many AV idols have followed suit. But then at the DMM Adult Awards, her appearance was less than stellar, and even displayed an overtly impatient look at the ceremony. [well, come on, we all know AV award show is a mind-numbing bore] A 6-months new debutante should know she should put up [a pretension of] respect and enthusiasm.

Then yesterday, on Twitter she dropped the next bomb: "I have a boyfriend." Instantly the online world is a-boil. Yes yes, insiders know that it's not uncommon that an AV idol has a BF or husband. [and of course many older-looking idols are packaged as MILF, regardless of their real world status, but otherwise no one actually talk about it] but Kaname's AV persona is that of an "idol", so a BF is practically taboo. Having a BF is one thing, but to talk about it openly, that drives the manager up the wall. Well that fact doesn't seem to concern Kaname.

"Normally it's an unspeakable subject, but I can't find any reason to hide it, so I said it. " She wrote on Twitter.

Then, some fans went nuts. [Japanese have a reputation of politeness, internationally, BUT] Japanese also can take sour insult to an art form [especially online]. Some fan dug out an earlier conversation [interview?] she said, "Don't have a BF, and not very interested in guys" now you said the opposite just after a month. "Are you fucking around [with us fans]? Why don't you be a human toilet instead?" One fan whined. Another fan found recent photos of her and criticize her deteriorating figure [meaning she got fat? or surgical fail?]. Yet another suggest she "should forget the BF and go become someone's blow-up sex doll instead."

Based on her popularity and sales, I guess Prestige [studio] and T-Powers [agency] can not afford to ruffle her feathers and at least for now, let her do as she pleases. Obviously such kind of talks is causing headaches to industry entities. Let's hope that she doesn't get into another berserker episode.

[personal comment: this highlights a (perhaps) epochal conflict between the old ways (everyone pretends that the persona is absolute 100% real) and the new ways (the persona is a commercial construct, the performer of that persona is allowed to have a different private life). To the rest of the world, Justin Bieber romantic relation might cause mass hysteria among the 9-13 age (female) group but grown-up men? A woman who's claim to rich and famous is sucking and fucking many many strangers, and she aren't supposed to have a BF?? Unless 12 years old boys is powerful influencer in the AV fandom??? ]
 

ball7

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Aug 2, 2010
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Honestly, it's nice to see the stars being open and frank.
And many of the japanese fans is living in a sort of fantasy world, but that is no reason to insult her like that.

Heck, I would love more of the private love life of some of my favorit av stars like have they dated fellow stars, male actors or directors.
 

darksider59

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Feb 24, 2014
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Honestly, it's nice to see the stars being open and frank.
And many of the japanese fans is living in a sort of fantasy world, but that is no reason to insult her like that.

I agree. If she wants to talk about it, she should be able to do it. What do JAV fans think ? It's not because they buy her movies that she's their slave. It's like AKB wota (hardcore fans) and the same in Korea with Kpop groups. People are just jealous because they will never have the chance to date their favourite idol or someone as beautiful.
 

ekop

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2008
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I agree. If she wants to talk about it, she should be able to do it. What do JAV fans think ? It's not because they buy her movies that she's their slave. It's like AKB wota (hardcore fans) and the same in Korea with Kpop groups. People are just jealous because they will never have the chance to date their favourite idol or someone as beautiful.

I think it's more about rules
For example there's a lot of celebs that don't have any restriction for having relationship and thay can freely talk and show their relationship but those who have that restriction are expected to follow that rules

If it's about freedom then anyone are free to choose where or with who they're going to work
When you have decided where you want to work then you have to follow their rules
It's the same for all of us
 

darksider59

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Feb 24, 2014
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I think it's more about rules
For example there's a lot of celebs that don't have any restriction for having relationship and thay can freely talk and show their relationship but those who have that restriction are expected to follow that rules

If it's about freedom then anyone are free to choose where or with who they're going to work
When you have decided where you want to work then you have to follow their rules
It's the same for all of us

I heard that in AKB, it's not an official rule but girls used to follow it. For kpop, I don't know if it's included in their contract. If it is, yes you must respect it and move to something else if you want to have a private life.
 

Lim3lighT

Member
Mar 24, 2014
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I heard that in AKB, it's not an official rule but girls used to follow it. For kpop, I don't know if it's included in their contract. If it is, yes you must respect it and move to something else if you want to have a private life.
AKB is kind of in this weird grey area where it's not stated in the official rules but it has been so ingrained in idol culture it may as well be a rule anyway. The problem is that management selectively enforces the rules, mostly based on popularity- if the girl is popular (see Kashiwagi Yuki, who had a couple scandals), they'll ignored it and pretend it didn't happen, but if the girl is less popular, she may be forced out (or will "graduate" shortly thereafter, supposedly by their own choice but I have doubts- see Owada Nana and Nishino Miki, who after being caught with Johnny's boys both "graduated" a couple months later within short periods of each other).

For kpop it is included in their contracts a lot of the time though it varies by agency; some agencies don't have it enforced but strongly discourage dating by telling stars that they'll likely become less popular if they start dating (which is true). Though in general kpop is laxer about dating than they used to be.
 

ding73ding

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Oct 25, 2009
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No, I quite disagree it's about rules (or contract terms). Rules and contracts only codify industry practice. You can say Miss Mikami violated contract or rule or even informal expectation and therefore can be "graduated" out. That only explain the code or the mechanics of the industry, it doesn't say anything if the industry practice is fair or not.

If you say, well that's how it is, any girl is free to not join the industry and/or quit at any time. The problem is, if a lot of talents (defined as a potential star, potential success) feel industry practice is unacceptable to them, then it's the industry's and fandom's loss.

I think there are two root factors, (1) industry practice may be anachronistic, out of step with social norms, if young generation of Japanese feel a job is just a job and certain industry sector still stuck to the old ways of expecting employees to give up their individuality for a career, and young people can find other career choice (say Youtube channel), then that industry will lose out. (2) if the fandom holds unreasonable expectation to their idols, and insult idols for, basically, nothing; then the blame needs to go to the fans. Sorry I don't believe the customer is always right. If the fandom is a virgin herbivore loser in real life, but hiding behind an online avatar, behave like a bully, then someone need to give them a spanking, figuratively speaking. The madness is that a large part of the fandom is also very cynical about it and whine that most of it is fake, industry constructs. And these cynical fans overlap with the stuck-up fans who demand that their idols adhere to the rules no matter it's fake industry constructs.

Problem with AKB/SKE etc is... their market proposition is exactly these otaku loser segment. Their branding is mediocre talents for a mediocre price point. The industry boos feel that if they went and lecture or educate the fandom, they might just "yeah, I don't want to live this loser fantasy life anymore, I should stop spending all my (mom's) money on cheap kitsch like AKB".

So it's up to reality to catch up and bite these closet bully in the ass. One day they will wake up and see that many AKB "graduate" into AV, soapland and delivery health. There is nothing wholesome (a key branding value for AKB) about them!
People are just jealous because they will never have the chance to date their favourite idol or someone as beautiful.
See above... Also this is only tolerable for 12 years olds.

The proper altitude is for a boy fan to improve himself, get rich, get famous, make himself handsome (plastic surgery included), lose weight or gain muscle or get smart, do whatever it takes to be worthy for a boy friend of an idol. Reality is that not only are these fans completely unqualitied for a BF for a reasonably attractive girl, they are completely unqualitied to deal with the issues or pressure to be BF to a famous person.

So it's much much more (worse) than 12 year old boyish emotional issue, it's not just "Shoko got a BF, and I'm sad because I'm not him". It's "I can't get a GF, my life sucks so I can't accept my idol to enjoy a happy life."

My own personal position is, due to the glamour (mainstream idols) and/or easy money (AV) it's inevitable that some dark practice are present in the industry(s). Some people are gullible or tempted by it and that opens them to exploitation. Unfortunately that's human nature and authority should control it, but it's hopeless to stamp it out completely. I think we should be both fair minded (criticize bad practice) and realistic (understand everyone has some responsibility). Ultimately I want the industry (the one I actually care about is AV, I'm not into J-pop and K-pop) to be attractive and not too exploitative so that any hot girl, in some need of money, can choose to do a short stint (a few vids) or a career (2+ years). We fans should have a balance between our masturbatory needs and AV idol's personal dignity (even if their persona is to be tied up, humiliated, gang r***ing and bukkaked).
 

kharo88

Akiba Citizen
Sep 13, 2015
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Well said for the most part, ding, but what the heck is this???

The proper altitude is for a boy fan to improve himself, get rich, get famous, make himself handsome (plastic surgery included), lose weight or gain muscle or get smart, do whatever it takes to be worthy for a boy friend of an idol. Reality is that not only are these fans completely unqualitied for a BF for a reasonably attractive girl, they are completely unqualitied to deal with the issues or pressure to be BF to a famous person.

You're making a lot of assumptions there, and I won't deny, you are definitely right when it comes to a portion of the fans, but I highly doubt that every male fan is like what you think they might be. Anyway, undergoing plastic surgery just so that an idol that you like might find you attractive? How do you know that she'd find you handsome after the surgery anyway? And hey, I'd be a hypocrite to say that being handsome doesn't help, but for girls what really matters is body language - the kind that exudes confidence. And not everybody likes muscular guys. Don't work out for an idol, work out because that's who you are. And yeah, if we're talking about an AV idol I agree that there's a very good chance that she's in for the money, so being rich would have to be a requirement when it comes to those idols, but if that certain idol only did two titles I wouldn't be so sure. And famous? Right here in this thread we had news(/rumours?) of an idol dating an ordinary guy a couple of pages back. I guess I agree that those things would generally improve your chances, but they are not a necessity.
And what do you mean that those fans are unqualitied to be a BF of a reasonably attractive girl - as if that's the only quality that matters when one's looking for a girlfriend. And I'm sure there were lots of couples where one of them was famous and the other wasn't, it's not like a random person isn't able to deal with their partner being famous.

In any case, I do agree with what you guys said about this topic. It would be great if the idol-culture stopped catering to delusional people. You can be into a famous person and in touch with reality at the same time. Believe me, I've done it! :windy:

My question is - since I don't follow these idols - that isn't the innocent/chaste image part of what they sell? Part of the idol culture? Isn't putting them on a pedestal not only encouraged but a requirement? So maybe a change in that might end the whole idol-culture as we know it or, if it's really that important, sales might even drop so much that it wouldn't be possible to go on for a lot of those idol groups?