Apparently it is a punishment for posting footage of herself and her boyfriend.

One of many strangest “guidelines” for feminine Japanese idols is that they don’t seem to be allowed to have romantic relationships. Whereas it’s questionable whether or not this rule is definitely written into an idol contract, it stays a relic of the early idol trade. Whereas this “rule” doesn’t crop up fairly often, the implications for the girl when it does are absurd. The newest sufferer of this “rule” and punishment is Katacoto*Financial institution member Momoka Tojo.

tojo_momoka
Picture through Momoka Tojo’s X/Twitter account

© Momoka Tojo

The “scandal” broke out on July 23 when Tojo celebrated her twentieth birthday. In a now-deleted publish on her X (previously Twitter) account, the idol posted a set of images that includes an unnamed man partying along with her. Though the images and publish had been deleted, some had been in a position to take screenshots of the images and repost them. Feedback on the posts had been assorted, with a handful wishing Tojo a contented birthday somewhat than criticizing her. One such publish was from X person @ayakakaganbalu.


Tojo’s message:
Thanks to everybody who got here to congratulate me at this time🫶🏻
And I did not give it some thought, so I could not reply on the stay broadcast, however my purpose for my 20s is, “I’ll work tougher to enhance myself so I will not be mistaken for an elementary faculty child anymore.”
🙂I’ll work tougher to enhance myself and change into cuter, so I hope you retain watching me, Tojo!🥺

Message from @ayakakaganbalu:
Congratulations!

Sadly, the company that manages Katacoto*Financial institution was not pleased with Tojo posting images of himself with an unnamed man. After a brief investigation, the company launched an announcement about his X/Twitter account on July 27. The assertion revealed that Tojo is in a relationship with a non-celebrity and warned that that is “unacceptable habits for an idol.” The company additionally outlined punishment for Tojo, which incorporates conserving a sure distance from her boyfriend (though it’s unclear what a “sure distance” is), and posting a solo good night time photograph of herself each night time for a 12 months. The complete assertion reads:

【Notification】

Discover concerning KATACOTO＊BANK’s Momoka Tojo.

Final night time, Tojo by chance posted a photograph of herself with a person she thought was her boyfriend.
After a radical investigation by administration, it was revealed that the person in query is a ‘non-celebrity’ and that she is at the moment in a relationship.
Following a stern warning to Tojo that that is unacceptable habits for an idol, now we have determined upon the next disciplinary measures after session with Tojo.

① Any longer, Tojo will preserve a sure distance from her boyfriend.
② As punishment, Tojo should publish a “good night time” photograph each night time for the following 12 months.

Crucial factor for an idol is to “stand (sleep) shut to each fan.”
*Should you suspect her boyfriend is in a photograph, please report it.

Though Momoka has simply change into an idol, we sincerely hope that this incident will encourage her to take her job as an idol critically.
We ask all our followers to proceed to encourage us, help us and unfold the phrase.
KATACOTO*BANK has an vital announcement.
On Tuesday, November 12, they are going to carry out a solo stay present at Shibuya Veats.

We recognize your continued help for KATACOTO*BANK.
*As well as, we might recognize it if you wouldn’t make any defamatory feedback about your non-celebrity good friend on this matter.



(About Momoka Tojo)

Following the assertion from Katacoto*Financial institution’s company, Tojo posted a handwritten letter to her followers and supporters concerning the incident on her X/Twitter account on July 27. In her assertion, Tojo wrote:

I sincerely apologize for the good inconvenience and misery I’ve triggered to my followers and everybody concerned on this incident by way of my reckless habits.
I missed out on idol fame and did one thing to disappoint the followers, members and everybody concerned who help me every single day. I deeply remorse my actions and really feel regret.
I’ll by no means do something like that once more and can do my finest to contribute to the group as a member of KATACOTO*BANK, with a powerful sense of my idol, in order that I can regain the belief of everybody who helps me.
I’m really sorry.



I might recognize it in case you might learn this.

The primary solo goodnight photograph was posted on July twenty eighth, and in an expression that may very well be described as a hostage. Nevertheless, within the following images, Tojo is smiling.


Good night time.
Beginning tomorrow I’ll do my finest once more, so preserve supporting me.

Tojo’s “scandal” is available in a protracted line of younger Japanese idols and feminine personalities being “caught” in relationships. Over the previous 15 years or so, there have been incidents similar to voice actor Aya Hirano in 2011, former AKB48 member Minamai Minegishi in 2013, vocalist Shoko Nakagawa in 2015, or TV persona Becky in 2016. Nevertheless, this begs the query of why it’s thought of scandalous for a younger lady within the leisure trade, particularly the idol trade, to be ‘caught’ in a romantic relationship.

This largely has to do with the “product” that idol companies are promoting. It sounds a bit crude to name a lady, and sometimes minors, “merchandise.” Nevertheless, it’s not the ladies who’re merchandise, however somewhat their notion and picture by society and a “dream” which you can be with them. Extra particularly, the picture is that these women and girls are virgins, however one way or the other out there to their, largely male, followers. And if they’re seen as tainted, as in not virginal or out there, then the dream of ever being with an idol is damaged. It’s a unhappy state of affairs as a result of it compares the women and girls to nothing greater than objects to be desired, somewhat than folks.

Fortuitously, youthful followers appear to be slowly breaking this notion. Though it is a small group, a few of Momoka Tojo’s followers have expressed their pleasure that she’s in a relationship. In truth, there are two X/Twitter customers responded to Tojo’s handwritten letter expressing this sentiment. X/Twitter person @kenmogirl replied to the letter saying, “Do not break up together with your boyfriend! Please!” And X/Twitter person @iwgp_mazesoba posted: “I such as you extra since you made it public that you’ve got a boyfriend and banning romance is a violation of human rights.”


Do not break up with my boyfriend! Please!😭



I am cheering for you!
If you consider it and it makes you content, then it is okay!
I such as you extra since you made it public that you’ve got a boyfriend. Banning romance is a violation of human rights.

Hopefully Momoka Tojo gained’t need to publish a superb night time photograph for a 12 months. However since that is the Japanese idol trade, she’ll most likely need to endure this humiliation. If she occurs to publish one other photograph of herself along with her associate, perhaps folks will take a number of seconds to contemplate whether or not it’s value reporting it to the Katacoto*Financial institution company.

Sources: X/ by Momoka TojoTwitter account (hyperlink 2,hyperlink 3,hyperlink 4), Katacoto*Financial institution’s X/Twitter account@ayakakaganbalu’s X/Twitter account@kenmogirl’s X/Twitter account@iwgp_mazesoba’s X/Twitter account, Should share information, M Mannequin Press