Japan's Takarazuka Opera Troupe, which has trained well-known actresses such as Hitomi Kuroki and Yuki Tenkai, has recently fallen into a storm of public opinion. Its actress Nami Inoue (stage name Aiki) committed suicide. According to Japanese media reports, on September 30, Youai jumped from the 18th floor of the apartment, and the police found a handbag on the roof of the 18th floor, ruling out the possibility of homicide.
There is Aikii
Aiki Aritsuka is a member of the Takarazuka opera troupe "Zeu Gumi" (Rookie Group). She graduated from Takarazuka Music School in 2017 and joined the Takarazuka Opera Company, and is a rising star who is favored by many people. Before the accident, she starred in the new drama "PAGAD" and participated in the first day of performance, but fell to her death the next day. As a result, the Takarazuka Opera Company stopped all performances, including the performances of the Aizuka Gumi from October 1st to the 22nd of this month.
《PAGAD》
The death of Aiki brought the problem of bullying within the Takarazuka Opera Company to the surface. As early as early February this year, the Japanese media exposed the bullying behavior within the Zeu Group, pointing out that the senior member Tiancai Peak burned Aikii's forehead with an electric splint, just like a realistic version of the plot of the Korean drama "Dark Glory". After being selected as the head of the newcomer performance, Aikii was targeted and ostracized by his seniors and juniors, including being reprimanded by his seniors until late at night, sudden abuse, and his arrangement opinions were opposed by his juniors, and so on.
Some media analysis pointed out that behind the bullying behavior is the structural problem of the Takarazuka Opera Company. Takarazuka is divided into five groups: "flowers, moons, snow, stars, and heavens", and the group implements a system of "self-government", that is, each group is managed by members independently, and the management does not intervene as much as possible. On the other hand, Takarazuka has strict internal management, and there is a strict culture of superiors and subordinates, and from work to life, juniors must unconditionally obey their predecessors. The Zeu group to which Aiki belongs is a newcomer group, and the relationship between superiors and subordinates is relatively loose, but the gentle Aiki has become a "target" in the group and is bullied by both seniors and juniors. Under the cover of "apprentice autonomy", Takarazuka's management turned a blind eye to bullying, which further encouraged the culture of bullying.
Chairman of Takarazuka Kenyuki Kiba
After the bullying problem was revealed in February, Takarazuka held an internal "identification meeting", and the management asked the superior whether there was bullying, and after receiving a negative answer, the investigation was stopped. Some Japanese media said that Takarazuka has always implemented a concealment blockade system, does not release any negative information to the outside world, and has repeatedly denied that there is bullying internally.
The death of Aiki caused public dissatisfaction with Takarazuka. Coupled with the fact that another entertainment giant, Janis, was dissolved due to the sexual harm incident of founder Kitagawa Sex, the era of full control of speech by large entertainment companies has passed. At present, Takarazuka held a press conference on October 7, announcing for the first time that it has established an investigation team composed of external lawyers, and will announce the results based on the details and background of the investigation.
Text | Reporter Hu Guangxin
Source | Yangcheng Evening News Yangcheng Pie
Responsible Editor | Shao Ziheng
Proofreading | Xie Zhizhong