bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Crystal Tai

A Japanese idol’s apology over being assaulted has triggered waves of anger towards her management company by people in Japan and around the world.
Maho Yamaguchi, a member of pop group NGT48, apologised for causing “trouble” after she spoke out about an alleged assault that occurred in December 2018.

Maho Yamaguchi should not have to apologize for getting assaulted.
I accept this apology as in not burning more bridges to keep getting jobs, but never ever should this be an apology for the attacker, the management or the leaker. pic.twitter.com/zGu9Duclos
— Mimiko ♥ (@mimiko_kupo) January 10, 2019

The 23-year-old singer, often referred to as “Mahohon” by fans, stood on stage and bowed deeply several times in a video taken during the group’s third-year anniversary concert.
“I am sorry for the trouble caused,” she told the crowd.

In a video livestream earlier in the week, Yamaguchi alleged that two men entered her home, covered her mouth and tackled her to the ground, before she managed to get away.
The men were arrested, but later freed without any charges.
Yamaguchi alluded to her management’s inaction over the matter in the video, and said she was concerned for her safety and that of other members of NGT48, an offshoot of the popular Japanese group AKB48.
“This time, I escaped harm,” she said during the livestream. “But I think about what would’ve happened if I had been killed, if the unthinkable were to happen and nothing was done in time.”

まほほん号泣配信 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ob1xlohj4z
— (/ω＼) (@korokoromilky) January 8, 2019

 
Yamaguchi’s apology and assault sparked outrage among fans and members of the public, who expressed their fury online.
Under the hashtag #justiceforMahohon, Twitter user @namdewartelnai said: “No girl should be apologising for exposing the truth about how she’s been assaulted by men and didn’t get justice from the people who should be protecting her. Stop blaming [and] silencing the victims!”

[!] I know a lot of people follow me because of #Luimelia, but I would like to beg for a minute of your time to sign this petition.
Japanese idol Yamaguchi Maho was attacked in her own home by two men and her group's management is doing nothing.https://t.co/GH3Wz6VHNd
— ROCK. (@sugaisrena) January 10, 2019

“She doesn’t have to apologise for speaking up,” wrote @dalbitare. “She’s the victim here. She’s stalked and almost got raped and people around her turn their back on her. Somebody please save this girl.”
Others spoke of exploitation and inhumane treatment within the Japanese entertainment industry.
A Japanese magazine ranked universities by how easy it is to have sex at drinking parties
“The Japanese Idol Industry is something that has needed a massive overhaul,” wrote @halffishharuka. “It was clear after that member of AKB48 was publicly shamed, shaved her head/apologized for having a boyfriend that the industry is very sexist and not willing to protect these girls,” the Twitter user added, referencing the incident when AKB48 idol Minami Minegishi shaved her head and apologised by video and was demoted within the group, after being discovered for having spent the night at the apartment of a male idol.

Former NGT48 member Rie Kitahara was among Yamaguchi’s few high-profile supporters. “You should not apologise! Do not apologise. You haven’t done anything wrong. Seriously! It’s wrong [for you to have] to bow in apology. I’m upset and frustrated,” the 27-year-old said in a statement released on Twitter.
Supporters filed a petition demanding an apology from the AKS management company and calling for the resignation of Yamaguchi’s manager. As of Friday afternoon, more than 26,000 people had signed the petition.

I translated mahohon's tweets about this pic.twitter.com/iV4IwSKFFp
— ryan@吉田運子 (@fryan_get) January 8, 2019

Experts say silencing victims of violence and assault, such as in the case of Yamaguchi, is related to the nation’s social values.
The characteristic of forbearance, or gaman in Japanese, is considered one of the most highly-valued traits of a Japanese citizen, said Linda White, a cultural anthropologist and associate professor of Japanese studies at Middlebury College in Vermont.
“For men, this often reveals itself in the ability to work gruelling hours or endure torturous physical training. For women, gaman is often associated with tolerating uncomfortable, or even abusive social interactions and power hierarchies,” she said.
Lesbian couple to take wedding photos in 26 countries to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues in Japan
“When a husband is abusive, the wife needs to gaman, when a boss wants a sexual favour, a young worker should gaman. And while gaman, may look like masochism to an outsider, it is a highly prized characteristic in both men and women in Japan,” said White, who added that on top of “taking it” women should bear difficulties without reporting them to protect a family or organisation’s honour.
But all this is changing as more high-profile women come forward to talk about assault and violence against women.
Over the past year, Japan has seen the rise of its own #metoo movement, with an increasing number of high-profile victims, including journalist Shiori Ito, coming forward to name their assaulters.
Japan’s funky monks move to prove they can ‘do it in robes’
In spring 2018, there were a couple of high-profile resignations of bureaucrats, said Liv Coleman, an associate professor and Japan gender specialist at the University of Tampa, referring to cases such as the resignation of Junichi Fukuda, Japan’s then-minister of finance, over allegations sexual harassment.
“But there has also been public, vocal criticism of women who have brought claims,” she said. “This serves to deter other women from bringing forth allegations of sexual harassment and assault.”
A 2016 survey conducted by Japan’s cabinet office found that only 4.3 per cent of rape victims reported their assaults to the police. Reasons for not reporting the crimes included embarrassment, or a belief they were also “in the wrong”, or that it was “pointless [to address]” the incident, according to a report by the Japan Times.


Major Chinese airlines extend full refund offers for Japan-bound flights by 3 months

New Trump strategy shifts US focus from China to Latin America, targets mass migration

Taipei protests after South Korea tourist arrival card lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan)’

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

Japan

NGT48 pop idol Maho Yamaguchi’s apology for home assault sparks outrage at Japanese victim-blaming

Maho Yamaguchi of Japanese idol group NGT48.

Maho Yamaguchi

#MeToo is too slow in Japan as peeping toms come under the spotlight

Journalist Shiori Ito sparked the rise of Japan’s #MeToo movement after speaking up about her alleged drugging and rape by a veteran television newsman. Photo: AP

Photo: Daniel Hurst

A Japanese magazine ranked women’s universities by how easy it is to have sex at drinking parties

A previous issue of Spa! magazine. Photo: Twitter

StandUpJapan petition

News

Asia

East Asia

The 23-year-old singer revealed she was assaulted at home by intruders last month
Days later, she issued an apology during a concert for “causing trouble”


The singer bowed and expressed remorse for “causing trouble” after revealing her experience being assaulted at home by intruders.


Sexual harassment and assault

NGT48 pop idol Maho Yamaguchi’s apology for home assault sparks outrage at Japanese victim-blaming

The 23-year-old singer revealed she was assaulted at home by intruders last month Days later, she issued an apology during a concert for “causing trouble”

The 23-year-old singer revealed she was assaulted at home by intruders last month

Days later, she issued an apology during a concert for “causing trouble”