US EditionAt Cannes, Fukada Spotlights J-Pop’s Ban on Idol Romance
- Director Koji Fukada, aged 45, premiered his latest film "Love on Trial" at Cannes, which stars former idol Saito Kyoko.
- Fukada developed the film after learning about a Japanese idol sued by her agency for violating a no-dating clause in exploitative contracts.
- "Love on Trial" depicts a young performer facing similar constraints, highlighting how teenage idols must stay unattached and chaste for their male fanbase.
- Fukada expressed strong concern upon learning about the issue and hopes his film will encourage discussions about gender discrimination in Japan.
- The film suggests that many idols accept restrictive images to maintain popularity and pursue fame, encouraging public discussion on gender, love, and freedom.
72 Articles
72 Articles
Daily Journal
Japanese filmmaker Fukada casts queasy gaze on J-pop idols
Exploitative contracts that force young female Japanese pop stars to forego relationships and sex are at the heart of director Koji Fukada's latest film, which has premiered in Cannes.
Cannes Festival: "Love On Trial" Explores the Dark Side of the Japanese Pop Industry
Love On Trial follows May, a young pop idol in the midst of an irreparable ascent: falling in love, despite the formal prohibition contained in her contract. When her relationship breaks out in the open, the star is dragged to justice by her own agency that claims damages. The director Koji Fuka probes, with his latest feature film, the dark side of the pop industry in her country. Interview with the prodigy of Japanese cinema, selected for the …
Cannes Review: Koji Fukada’s Love on Trial Gracefully Unpacks Idol and Agency
What is love? For some, it is mutuality––a chemistry, care, and concern that blossoms into an equally supportive relationship. For others, it is devotion––a one-sided, obsessional affection that the lover finds selfless. Japanese idol group Happy Fanfare sing about love, but they’re not allowed to pursue their own––such is the “No Love” clause present in their contracts. Their romantic isolation is deemed vitally important to the business of ido…
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