Being a fan of any entertainer in 2019 can be a challenge, as scandals both old and new make blindly supporting artists an impossible task. That might be doubly true for Japanese idol-pop acts, who inhabit a corner of the country's entertainment industry made up predominantly of young women, which has always come under scrutiny for the way it treats those involved.
But recent goings-on have shown new ways to spur positive change for the performers involved in the idol industry — and fans are leading the charge in Japan.
The catalyst has been the scandal surrounding Maho Yamaguchi, part of AKB48 sister group NGT48, which is based in Niigata. In December, the performer was allegedly assaulted by two men inside her apartment complex. Yamaguchi revealed the incident to followers on Twitter and the streaming site Showroom, claiming her management failed to do anything for her in the wake of the attack, which was allegedly orchestrated by another member of the pop outfit.