entertainment

Thinking of sleeping your way up? Don’t! Shoko Nakagawa has stern message for showbiz hopefuls

33 Comments
By grape Japan

Taking advantage of one's position to cause injury to the bodies, mental wellbeing, and dignity of others is reprehensible and inexcusable.

In Japan, just as in many countries, cases of sexual harassment and bullying at work continue to beleaguer society.

Unfortunately, since the perpetrators are in a superior position in the company hierarchy, victims may feel they have no choice but to cry themselves to sleep and suffer in silence.

Shoko Nakagawa's warning to young showbiz hopefuls

Today, on March 31st, 2022, TV personality, actress, voice actress, illustrator, and singer Shoko Nakagawa, known by her fans as "Shokotan," posted an important message on her Twitter account.

Speaking from her position as someone with over two decades of experience in the Japanese entertainment industry, she offered serious advice to young people who dream of entering showbiz:

Screen-Shot-2022-04-01-at-8.32.45.png

Although Nakagawa didn't mention what specific news she was reacting to, there is a likely candidate: Three days earlier on March 28, actor Hoka Kinoshita announced that he was suspending his showbiz activities. The actor was reported to have sexually assaulted several actresses in quid-pro-quo job offers. He later admitted his wrongdoing on his Twitter account.

Unfortunately, this wasn't an isolated case. The Japanese entertainment industry has seen many such cases of "pillow operations" (枕営業 makura eigyō)—the Japanese term for the "casting couch"—in which people have taken advantage of their position as a pretext for sexual assault.

Based on her long experience in the industry, Nakagawa clearly stated: "You won't succeed that way."

Oftentimes, people only see the positive as they envision their spectacular careers in showbiz. Through her message, Nakagawa surely intended to equip them with a healthy dose of caution.

Her comments went viral, eliciting numerous comments such as:

"As a 20-year veteran, Shokotan is very persuasive when she says this."

"Society as a whole must continue to say NO to sexual harassment and workplace bullying!"

"I hear such stories not only in the entertainment industry. I hope that young people starting their careers will be careful."

We can only hope that Nakagawa's influence on her social media platform will be effective in sending the message loud and clear to those who need to hear it the most.

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© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

33 Comments
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smart lady

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Too bad she and others don't have the guts to name the supposed rapist, like women in the US did with Harvey Weinstein. Otherwise, her message is lame and fogettable.

"In Japan, just as in many countries..."

Gotta love these English-language Japanese news/features sites covering Japan. Everything good in Japan is because it's uniquely Japanese. Anything that's negative is found throughout the world. That's how propaganda is made!

4 ( +17 / -13 )

Good for Shokotan! However, despite her cautions to those younger, we all know in the world of J ‘Entertainment’, cream doesn’t often get the chances to rise to the top based on real talents.

- “The J entertainment industry has seen many such cases of "pillow operations" (枕営業 makura eigyō)—the J term for the "casting couch"—in which people have taken advantage of their position as a pretext for sexual assault.” -

3 ( +9 / -6 )

There are (and will be others) far worse than ‘actor’ Hoka Kinoshita, and those

young, impressionable and easily coerced to do anything to get the ‘stardom’

and possible financial security of ‘talento’ work in Japan.

*- “Kinoshita announced that he was suspending his showbiz activities, reported to have sexually assaulted several actresses in quid-pro-quo job offers. He later admitted his wrongdoing on his Twitter account.” -*

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Such actions still exist???

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

I think the much bigger problem is the shear number of women is this country who take the easy road and use their body for financial gain. Have you seen the size of the mizushoubai industry in this country? Don't trust a pretty face is my warning.

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

I hope this message is on front pages of Japanese newspapers and not a couple of lines on the back page. Hope. But most editors are male…

5 ( +9 / -4 )

As you can see by the photo the poor girl is absolutely distraught .

And after 2 decades of abuse.

Poor thing .

-20 ( +3 / -23 )

"And more importantly, do I look cute?"

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Let’s talk about young Japanese girls sleeping with older men so they can go to Disneyland 50 times a year and buy expensive clothes, bags and jewelry and then proudly show it off in public. Now compare that to being successful in the entertainment industry. This is not just about sexual harassment, it’s also about Education.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

This is not just about sexual harassment, it’s also about education.

In other words, have some self-respect and integrity...

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Oh shut up Shoko for gods sake !

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Not clear what she really trying to talk about. Is she claiming she did it too and it’s bad? Or she somehow didn’t do it at all and still achieved anyway?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Title: Thinking of sleeping your way up? Don’t! Shoko Nakagawa has stern message for showbiz hopefuls

Article:

In Japan, just as in many countries, cases of sexual harassment and bullying at work 

so about showbiz or about regular people at work?

and no she didn’t mention if she personally did this to “get famous”

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Japan has been like that way before Edo period.

This sexuality act won't stop esp when the world is in turmoil.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Such actions still exist???

As someone who works in entertainment, but can tell you, yes, it happens all the time and every on the planet, EVERYWHERE! Young women that are hungry to get into the business will do literally anything to make it big and the talent scouts and talent agencies will often exploit these women in a microsecond.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I’m wondering why so many downvotes to posts just stating facts and the truth. Probably because the article isn’t clear on what message it wants to send. It talks about bullying and sexual harassment but then it also talks about women who choose to sleep with men in exchange for favors. Two different things. In my previous post I talked about one of the main problems in Japanese society – it’s all about money and being successful, whatever that means. If people feel uncomfortable about what Japanese girls and women do to get what they want or to pretend they’re something else, it’s their problem, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. As for the bullying and sexual harassment in workplaces, or anywhere really, that’s an even bigger problem because that’s part of Japanese culture. The girl was trying to send a good message, though.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

By the way “Shokotan” has a new lingerie/bikini photo book coming out in June.

the advertisement says:

fans will get to see “more of Shoko than ever”

so yeah kinda mixed messages.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Men as well as women can be exploited.

Yes. And it will continue as long as showbiz success brings massive fame and wealth. As I am sure Ms. Nakagawa knows, sexual favors often do help a person's entertainment career. Many of the top stars of today did awful things to get to the top - and I think that contributes to the bitterness you see in some wealthy celebrities.

Yet, for every person who gots a step up the ladder to success by submitting to sexual demands, there are 100s who also submit and get nothing at all for their efforts.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I’m wondering why so many downvotes to posts just stating facts and the truth. 

A lot of the posters here are sexist, they treat women as different than men, delicate little creatures who are taken advantage of by these nasty men. When in fact women are equal, are equally bad and can be as manipulative as men. Everyone in Japan gets screwed in business when starting out, look at the male to female suicide ratio to see the hardships mental and physical that men endure.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

bobcatfishToday  08:39 am JST

I think the much bigger problem is the shear number of women is this country who take the easy road and use their body for financial gain.

ROFLMAO! You think that's something unique to Japan???

0 ( +3 / -3 )

By the way “Shokotan” has a new lingerie/bikini photo book coming out in June. 

the advertisement says: 

fans will get to see “more of Shoko than ever” 

so yeah kinda mixed messages.

Would you also criticise an action star for promoting road safety or a boxer speaking out about domestic violence?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You'll always have people trying to exploit you, men or women.

Of course I despise them if in an exploitive approach, but it is most of the time in an a common agreement to get to sleeping. Kind of a bet. Not something persons with morale and ethics would do.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Not clear what she really trying to talk about. Is she claiming she did it too and it’s bad? Or she somehow didn’t do it at all and still achieved anyway?

Is she boasting that she didn't need to do it, because she's so talented?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

sadly this problem happened throughout human history, the rich&powerful control all aspects of life, economically, socially, and politically. But, in modern day, though may not be a complete solution, courage to expose their deplorable and despicable acts represent public shaming that hopefully damage their reputations and privileges. There are many of us than the elite few, we must stop them from controlling common folks livelihoods.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Johnny Kitagawa should have been taken down Harvey Weinstein style when he was still alive. Now that he’s dead, he’s basically canonized in industry as a “pioneer” and “visionary genius”…. puke….

This guy and his wife were the biggest pimps of pretty boys (some younger than 15) to pederasts in the industry, not to mention Kitagawa himself being infamous for “tasting” the goods.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

“Society as a whole must say NO to sexual harassment and workplace bullying.”

Spot on! Unfortunately there are probably a lot of young women who are willing to prostitute themselves after hours with dreams of improving their position in life. How can you regulate that?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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