In the last few days, Shukan Bunshun reported that idol group AKB48 member Minami Minegishi spent a night at the house of GENERATION member Alan Shirahama on January 17th. Minegishi and Shirahama co-starred together in a reading drama “Moshimo Kimi ga.” back in 2011.
The scandal resulted to Minegishi's demotion from Umeda Team B member to Kenkyuusei or Research Student. She also posted an apology video at AKB48's official YouTube page. Here's a translation (courtesy of tokyohive):
I am very sorry for worrying the members, you fans, staff members, my family, and many people for the article about me on a weekly magazine that will be released today.Meanwhile, Alan Shirahama's agency, LDH, only commented, “We leave his private life up to him. He told us that they were nothing more than just good friends.”
As the first generation member of AKB48 that was formed back in 2005, I was supposed to be in the position where I always had to act as a role model for the junior members. However, what I have done was such a thoughtless and a lack of self-awareness behavior.
Since my mind is still in blank, I did not know what to do or what I can do, but as I just saw the magazine, I could not sit still, so I decided all by myself to shave my head without even telling the members or my agency.
I do not expect that I would be forgiven by doing this, but what I first thought was that I did not want to quit AKB48.
I was unable to think of leaving AKB48 now where the members I love and spent my youth together, and you warm fans are. I know this is being over‐optimistic, but I want to stay as Minegishi Minami of AKB48 if possible.
It was all my fault about this. I am very sorry.
I will leave everything to Akimoto-sensei’s and the management’s judgement. Though I haven’t been able to sort out my feelings, I just wanted to tell you how I was feeling right now.
Thank you.
Further details on Minegishi’s activities will be announced on a later date.
AKB48 is known for their "rule against love" and many members had already faced certain issues when it comes to dating, most of the time, from the very same magazine/tabloid. Although some chooses to stay and reflect on their mistakes (if there really is), there are some who ended up facing graduation, or decided to graduate.
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This is outrageous. What about her BF, did he cut his hair to? Absolutely no. Oh, Japan...
Nice post! Not even a fan but when I saw the video pop up, I had to take a look because I have noticed certain AKB members but to shave her hair off in an act of forgiveness to the public does seem extreme from a Western view. I do not believe for one second she shaved her hair off according to her, there must have been some “influence” from her company.
The demotion is really sad because I heard she is a 1st generation member as well. I heard this AKB member and the EXILE member are getting treated the same by idol fans but obviously with the girl’s video and how in most idol relationships, the girl seems to get the blame and negative treatment more than the male, the attention seems more on her not only in Japan but also in the West. The BBC and the Guardian over here in the UK have picked up on this story since it’s seen as human rights in the West. To be honest it deserves to have international attention and pressure but only if international media do not make assumptions and read up from a translated Japanese article.
This is awful, The girl should be allowed to do what she wants. I mean shes a grown women. And god tell me why they can make a dating game for these girls but they cant date in real life, that's worse than a monestary.
The idol industry is a damn criminal ring. They hook you at 13 while you are fresh faced and innocent, sell your growing sexuality and virgin status then threaten to unleash you to the hyena pit of stalkers and possible rapists that have jerked off to your body since you started at 13 if you step out of line. Not to mention the "product" they end up selling. (AKB48's infamous "handshake ticket cd sale" event comes to mind)