TOKYO (TR) – Mei Hanada, a former member of the idol group AKB48, has released a shocking video claiming management coerced her into shaving her head after she was caught meeting a fan.
The allegations were made by the 21-year-old Hanada on Sunday, the same day her management agency, DH, announced the unprecedented termination of her contract, reports Nikkan Sports (June 23).
Appearing in a video posted to X wearing a mask and sporting a very short buzz cut, a tearful Hanada admitted to breaking the group’s strict rules.
“Despite being active in AKB48, I held hands on the street with a specific fan I met privately,” Hanada said, her voice trembling. “It was a careless act that lacked self-awareness as an idol. I am truly sorry.” She also admitted to dropping hints about her location on the app Weverse, floating away on the excitement of playing a game of “tag” with fans.
“I should shave my head to show my sincerity”
However, the scandal took a dark turn when Hanada detailed her subsequent interrogation by management. She alleged that staff accused her of dating the fan, asked inappropriate sexual questions, and refused to believe her denials.
According to Hanada, management then weaponized the group’s history against her, referencing the infamous 2013 incident where former member Minami Minegishi shaved her own head following a tabloid dating scandal.
“I was told that if I wanted to continue in AKB48, I should shave my head to show my sincerity,” Hanada claimed. “I was questioned for hours in a strong tone, and the word ‘shave’ was brought up many times. I felt that if I didn’t do it, I would be forced to quit.”
Driven by a desperate desire to remain in the group, she sheared her hair. The resulting emotional toll, coupled with a growing distrust of management, left her experiencing daily suicidal thoughts, she said.
Management agency DH has vehemently denied the coercion allegations.
In a statement announcing her dismissal, the agency stated, “It goes without saying, but when we checked with the staff in charge, they said, ‘We would absolutely never issue such an instruction.'”
Discovery of interactions with fan
DH painted a different picture of the events leading to her termination. The agency claimed Hanada had been repeatedly late due to alleged poor health and was taking a hiatus to focus on treatment. It was during this break that her interactions with the fan were discovered.
When management attempted to discuss the matter, they found major discrepancies between Hanada’s story and testimony from other involved parties. DH stated that because Hanada eventually refused direct communication — opting instead to speak only through a lawyer — the agency made the comprehensive decision to terminate her contract.
Hanada joined AKB48 in March 2024 as a 19th-generation trainee and was considered a rising star, having already been selected to perform on three title tracks.
Her dismissal marks a grim milestone for the idol juggernaut: it is the first time in AKB48’s 21-year history that a member has had their contract outright terminated.
“I decided to broadcast what happened just as it is, no matter what happens to me,” Hanada said in her video. “I don’t want any other girl in AKB48 to be cornered into shaving her head like I was.”
