Official replaced over physical aggression against NGT48 singer

Disgusting that she had to apologize. What kind of society do we live in that a victim has to apologize to the offender. This agency should be sued.

And the horrible plight of women continues unabated.

@Wolfpack, this is one Japanese custom I am more tha  happy to see vanish. I feel bad for those victims who have to bow and say sorry.

I am not a fan of these whatever48s, especially of those girls who portray being dumb as cute.

I apologise for being a victim of a dumb arse old man who I inevertably upset by expressing an opinion, but let's celebrate a Japan where everyone can shine? I should apologise for making these old men profit. At no or little profit to myself. It's unacceptable that I accidentally made them angry by being human.

Physical aggression? I think they mean, physically assaulted! Just another case of physical abuse, intimidation and bullying of a woman in male dominated Japanese society.

Disgusting that she had to apologize. What kind of society do we live in that a victim has to apologize to the offender. This agency should be sued.

Agreed. It's also disgusting that some people disagree with your statement. Being made to apologize for being assaulted? I can't understand how anyone in their right mind would support such a bizarre directive.

Two men visited her house, assault her and....no prosecutors? No investigation? She has to apologise? What a weird system.

I hope at some stage these "groups" go out of style, one or two of them might "make it" and end up as "talent" but the vast majority work for nearly nothing in bizarre situations where they aren't allowed normal relationships, barely any holidays and are part of the on going sexualization of young women for men often with not enough social skill to know its all for show.

I don't think you need much imagination to realize the other stuff that must go on, young women isolated from family and friends, not allowed normal relationships with people their own age, on tour with older men in a position of power over them...

@Strangerland

It's a problem either way though perhaps for slightly different reasons. Are these young women autonomous individuals with agency and dignity or are they mere pawns of management, profit and a propaganda machine that caters to the fantasies of young men? This disgusting aspect of society affects all young people: it weakens and degrades their spirits and "souls." It gives men and women the wrong idea about life.

Would it be too much to ask for one of these groups to have mostly female management and be run a bit more fairly and democratically? Is it essential for them to work for ojisans who make all the rules? Even if the commercial tv channels are run yakuza style as a closed shop with only certain talento agencies allowed, surely NHK and local governments at least could support a female operation?

this is another example the mindset and legal 'racket' is irreparably broken, in my case of assault the authorities actually rewarded the assailant who confessed was found guilty and penalized me for taking him to court! total whacko.

And the horrible plight of women continues unabated.

And people wonder why I think the commercial through cream in woman's face over and over is wrong!

Instead of apologizing, she should have called them out. And by "them", I mean her managers.

And, of course, press charges against the two fans.

Nice to see the "parent" Management tacking action, even if it is too late. If anyone else had a hand in helping these two overly obsessive fans, should be fired as well, and forced to apologise. Not just to the Idol singer, but to the whole population as a whole!

I don’t see Yamaguchi’s apology as an “apology” to the offenders. It is Japanese custom to say sorry when other people are worried about them. It’s called being humble. It’s not in any way a denial of the fact that she is the victim of a crime or that she is sorry for something she isn’t in any way responsible for. People are too quick to look at social situations in foreign countries and judge them using their own cultural mores.

Despite being the victim, Maho Yamaguchi was made to apologize to fans

Was her being made to apologize fact, or an assumption?

Without that information, we can only speculate. I see both possibilities being plausible. If she was made, then it's a problem. If she wanted to apologize, then I'd fail to see the problem.