TOKYO (TR) – Adult video (AV) actress Hana Honjo, a former leader of an idol group managed by a major entertainment agency, is pulling back the curtain on the grueling, cutthroat reality of the pop idol industry.
In an interview with Nikkan Spa! (Oct. 3), she reveals that severe weight restrictions and intense pressure drove her to mental illness before she eventually transitioned to the adult video (AV) industry.
Honjo entered the idol world in middle school. What followed was a brutal survival-of-the-fittest environment. Out of roughly 30 trainees, only nine were selected each month to perform live. To secure her spot, Honjo memorized the vocal parts and choreographic formations for all nine members, waiting for a chance to step in.
But the physical demands quickly bordered on abuse. According to Honjo, management strictly enforced mandatory weekly weigh-ins, a practice she now describes as borderline harassment. Standing at 156 centimeters, she was instructed to stay around 40 kilograms. Feeling the pressure to lead by example, Honjo forced her weight down to a dangerous 38 kilograms.
“I made my own calorie-restricted bento boxes. After lessons, I would go home, eat slightly, and then run around the neighborhood to increase my exercise. I would even walk the distance of extra train stations to burn calories,” she revealed.
Makura eigyo
Honjo also shed light on the entertainment industry’s sleazy underbelly, confirming the existence of makura eigyo (pillow sales, which means trading sex for industry advancement). While she says her immediate group was protected from such exploitation, she witnessed it happening around her.
“I initially thought it was an urban legend, but it wasn’t. There really are ways to secure a spot like that,” she said, noting that young women who engaged in the practice were usually quickly used up and discarded by the industry.
The relentless pressure ultimately broke her. Exhausted by the constant public scrutiny, Honjo developed bipolar disorder and an eating disorder. She developed an intense fear of being watched, leading her to abruptly quit the idol industry and retreat from the public eye entirely. Seeking safety from the male gaze and potential stalkers, she took a job as a receptionist at a women-only beauty salon.
Yuna Ogura
However, the allure of the spotlight eventually returned. Inspired by senior AV actress Yuna Ogura, Honjo made the controversial decision to debut in the adult industry.
Her transition was not without friction. For her AV debut, Honjo wore a replica of her former idol costume, prompting her old agency to hastily scrub her past idol data from the internet. She was also hit with a barrage of hateful direct messages from her former fans.
Despite the fierce backlash, Honjo remains entirely unapologetic about her new career path. She says the adult industry has given her better pay and the ability to finally eat what she wants without starving herself.
“When I was an idol, I kept everything bottled up, thinking things would work out if I just endured it, which led to me self-destructing,” Honjo said. “Now, I’m not bound by anything. I can act as I please with zero stress. I am living more true to myself now.”
