Interest
Tokyo Court Rejects Agency's Damage Claim Against Former Idol for Dating
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The precedents for idols who violated the "no dating" clauses in their contracts is getting confusing.
A talent agency in Japan sued a 23-year-old woman and former idol for compensation after she allegedly violated a clause in her contract by dating a male fan in 2014. Presiding Judge Katsuya Hara of Tokyo District Court, however, did not find in favor of the agency and instead claimed that such contracts "significantly restricts the freedom to pursue happiness" and the ability to date the opposite sex falls under "the right to self-determination," which is equal to "living in a way one wants to."
The woman signed the contract with the agency in 2012. It was then discovered she was dating a male fan and she requested to annul to contract in July 2014. Judge Hara also noted that cases in which compensation can be requested are limited.
This recent ruling is the opposite outcome of a similar case brought before the same court in September. In that case, Judge Akitomo Kojima ruled in favor of the agency and said, "Discovering romantic relations damages the image of idols. To gain the support of male fans, clauses banning romantic relations are necessary." Kojima blamed the girl for the dissolution of the idol group and fined her for part of her clothing and lesson costs. The total amounted to 650,000 yen ($5,386) in damages.
The defendant in the September case did not appeal the ruling and it was finalized in October.
In Japan, celebrities are widely expected to lead highly moral, chaste lives and project an image of "purity" to appeal to their fans. Voice actress Yū Serizawa apologized for wearing a ring in 2014; AKB48 singer Minami Minegishi shaved her head in repentance for dating a dancer in 2013; and actor and singer Jin Akanishi was blackballed for marrying fellow actor and singer Meisa Kuroki in 2012.
[Via Japan Today]
