The Japanese media love a scandal and so far 2018 hasn't disappointed in that regard. Two recent stories centered around J-pop idols have been mostly ignored by mainstream outlets, but both have taken off online thanks to web publications, hinting at a shift unfolding in the nation's news landscape.
In late March, teenager Honoka Oomoto died in an apparent suicide in her home prefecture of Ehime. She was a member of a local idol-pop group called Enoha Girls, and weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun's website has been investigating the incident. On May 19 it published a story online built around comments from the young woman's mother, who said the pressures of idol work contributed to her daughter's death.
Bunshun also shared messages from the chat service Line suggesting that the talent agency working with Oomoto pressured her to prioritize performing over school, and threatened her with a penalty fee if she quit.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.