# Life as a female Pop star isn't easy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194 "2013-02-03T05:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/1 "2013-02-03T05:18:49Z")
AKB48 is apparently a hugely popular girls band in Japan. One that includes a no dating rule. Even for adult women. That must suck. Sucks even more to feel obligated to show your dishoner by chopping off your hair. A 20 year old, adult driven to this? sheesh. At least it wasn’t hara kari. Maybe we could get Japan to adopt Justin Bieber? We’ll even throw in Selena Gomez too. 😃 > **[AKB48 pop star shaves head after breaking band rules](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21299324)** > > Japanese pop star Minami Minegishi shaves her head and films an apology after breaking her band's rules by spending a night with her boyfriend. > [@](#): > > In the video posted on AKB48’s official website, she said she had made the decision to shave off her long hair to show contrition for her “thoughtless and immature” actions. > > “I don’t believe just doing this means I can be forgiven for what I did, but the first thing I thought was that I don’t want to quit AKB48,” she said. > \ > > They portray an image of cuteness known as “kawaii”, and have become a huge phenomenon both in Japan and increasingly in other Asian countries, correspondents say. > > The condition for being part of such a successful act is that the girls must not date boys, so as not to shatter their fans’ illusions. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/2 "2013-02-03T05:59:24Z")
They can have Bieber, but lets keep Gomez.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/3 "2013-02-03T07:04:52Z")
> [@](#): > > The condition for being part of such a successful act is that the girls must not date boys, so as not to shatter their fans’ illusions. And forcing the girls not to date won’t? ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/4 "2013-02-03T10:58:27Z")
So…they can date girls? Or…they can have a boyfriend, but they can’t “date” him…or sleep with him? You know the economy is in trouble when a company can demand celibacy in exchange for a job, and people go along with it. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/5 "2013-02-03T13:05:55Z")
Hmm, if this was in the UK this would certainly be a publicity stunt and almost certainly one in the US. I don’t know anything about the Japanese music industry or too much about the history of such punishments but a publicity stunt wouldn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/6 "2013-02-03T13:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > The condition for being part of such a successful act is that the girls must not date boys, so as not to shatter their fans’ illusions. > [@Ale](#): > > And forcing the girls not to date won’t? No kidding. Adoring fan: “She doesn’t have a boyfriend, I’ve totally got a chance with her!” Other guy: “Dude, she’s not _allowed_ to date anyone. She’s totally off limits.” Adoring fan: “Goddammit.” ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/7 "2013-02-03T14:01:07Z")
The Japanese Britney! Damn copycats. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/8 "2013-02-03T14:54:22Z")
> [@](#): > > The condition for being part of such a successful act is that the girls must not date boys, so as not to shatter their fans’ illusions. Is that what Joan Jett and Cherrie Currie were all about? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/9 "2013-02-03T15:19:34Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Hmm, if this was in the UK this would certainly be a publicity stunt and almost certainly one in the US. I don’t know anything about the Japanese music industry or too much about the history of such punishments but a publicity stunt wouldn’t surprise me. No, but it sheds light on just how heavily scripted and controlled these people’s public lives are. Even here, young stars are little more than puppets for their media conglomerate overlords. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/10 "2013-02-03T16:15:58Z")
I for one welcome our new media conglomerate overlords! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/11 "2013-02-03T16:57:07Z")
media conglomerate indeed. 90 girls in that band. Makes any 1 girl easily replaceable. I hope the older girls have saved their earnings. > [@](#): > > Minegishi was one of the original members of AKB48 when it was launched by producer Yasushi Akimoto in 2005. The band is made up of some 90 girls - whose ages range from mid teens to early 20s - who, in teams, appear daily in their own theatre and regularly on television, in adverts, and in magazines. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/12 "2013-02-04T23:11:17Z")
So they’re like nuns who sing? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/13 "2013-02-04T23:20:25Z")
> [@](#): > > she had made the decision to shave off her long hair to show contrition for her “thoughtless and immature” actions Try again. ---
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/14 "2013-02-05T00:39:17Z")
[Here](http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/17oq2i/in_japan_pop_star_idols_are_forbidden_to_have/c87gcuv) is a good post explaining the context for this. One crucial thing to note is that AKB48 is an idol group; the no dating rule generally only applies to idols, and not to musicians or pop singers in general. I doubt someone such as Utada Hikaru would have ever had any such clauses in her contract, and Ayumi Hamasaki has married and divorced. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/15 "2013-02-05T07:15:18Z")
I guess I just don’t understand the appeal of “purity”. I was “pure” at 20, albeit not by choice; it certainly didn’t make \*me \*more desirable. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/16 "2013-02-05T07:44:57Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Hmm, if this was in the UK this would certainly be a publicity stunt and almost certainly one in the US. I don’t know anything about the Japanese music industry or too much about the history of such punishments but a publicity stunt wouldn’t surprise me. First thought that occurred to me. Nothing like a bit of high drama to keep the plotline going. ---
**Author:** ![Vicullum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vicullum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicullum)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/17 "2013-02-05T12:52:07Z")
> [@Animastryfe](#): > > [Here](http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/17oq2i/in_japan_pop_star_idols_are_forbidden_to_have/c87gcuv) is a good post explaining the context for this. One crucial thing to note is that AKB48 is an idol group; the no dating rule generally only applies to idols, and not to musicians or pop singers in general. I doubt someone such as Utada Hikaru would have ever had any such clauses in her contract, and Ayumi Hamasaki has married and divorced. Yep, if she were just another singer no one would really care. In Japan an “idol” is like a singer, but with a far creepier, obsessive fan base. The whole purity image is just a marketing ploy to said fans, who have been known to [buy thousands of dollars worth of their CDs just to get tickets to an event where they can shake their hands.](http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/12/09/akb48-otaku-still-getting-even-creepier/) (site NSFW). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/18 "2013-02-05T13:05:45Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I guess I just don’t understand the appeal of “purity”. I was “pure” at 20, albeit not by choice; it certainly didn’t make \*me \*more desirable. because otherwise fundie parents wouldn’t let their kids see or hear the latest Disney muppets. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/19 "2013-02-05T13:35:39Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > So they’re like nuns who sing? Hmmmm, the last singing nun act with a “no dating boys” rule [did not end well.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Nun#Last_years) Japanese singing nuns? _[Domo](http://anders.home.die.net/domo-kun/domo01.jpg)nique-inique-inique_ ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-as-a-female-pop-star-isnt-easy/649194/20 "2013-02-05T15:19:05Z")
I’ve heard that being kicked out of an idol group is basically lifetime career suicide. It’s not just being unable to have any sort of romantic relationship (so the creepy housebound loners can fantasize about you being THEIR girlfriend, natch), but smoking is also an instant out. There have been a few idols, that have pulled themselves out of the rut caused by being kicked out due to dating/smoking, but from what I hear it’s a goddamn media feeding frenzy whenever an idol is caught doing a “not allowed” thing – to the point where they are trashed day in and day out until their name is mud. The saving grace, as mentioned, is that non-idols can have normal lives – so if you resign and work towards a solo or non-idol gig you can be relatively safe. It’s just if you’re still an idol and get caught dating someone or something. This is all second hand info I’m going on, though.