TOKYO (TR) – A massive controversy has erupted online over the Netflix reality show “Love Joto,” after participants with criminal pasts were seen boasting about extreme acts of violence, prompting severe backlash against the show’s producers and the Ministry of Justice for an ill-conceived promotional tie-up, reports Zakzak (Aug. 17).
The program features men and women with histories of delinquency or stints in juvenile detention living together in Okinawa Prefecture in an attempt to “start over.” However, the show ignited public outrage when scenes went viral showing cast members casually discussing past criminal acts as badges of honor.
Statements from participants such as “I set a person on fire,” “I’ll sink them in the sea,” and “My favorite weapon is a survival knife” sparked furious accusations that the show glorifies violent crime and completely disregards the trauma of actual victims.
“Laid bare their pasts and presents”
Adding fuel to the fire, it was revealed that the Ministry of Justice’s Rehabilitation Bureau had partnered with the show for a nationwide poster campaign at probation offices, utilizing the catchphrase “Rehabilitation Joto!!” (Rehabilitation Superior!!). The public quickly questioned the judgment of a government agency endorsing the “entertainment consumption” of violent crime.
According to the ministry’s website, they endorsed the upcoming second season—billed as a “pure love reality show of hot-blooded delinquents”—because the participants’ struggles and growth align with the bureau’s core message that “People can change. Together.” The Ministry expressed hope that the show would bring awareness to rehabilitation efforts.
“Kanae Sensei”
Amid escalating backlash against the cast, the show’s planner and producer, the television personality Megumi, issued a statement on her Instagram story on the 13th, pleading for an end to the online abuse.
“They have laid bare their pasts and presents with resolve to participate in this show,” Megumi wrote. “Please stop throwing hurtful words at them. I would be happy if you could respect each participant and watch over them warmly.”
However, her defense did little to quell the outrage and drew fierce criticism from criminology experts, including “Kanae Sensei,” a popular VTuber and former Ministry of Justice official.
During a livestream on August 16, the former official slammed his old employer’s Rehabilitation Bureau, stating the posters “reduce to nothing” the hard work of actual probation officers. “Most people consider the crimes they committed to be a profound shame,” he noted, contrasting the reality of the penal system with the show’s boastful tone.
“Out of touch”
He also dismissed Megumi’s defense as “out of touch.”
“While slander is absolutely wrong, if you intend to make money off your past violence and delinquency, you must be prepared for more criticism than usual,” he said.
He harshly condemned the show’s entire premise, calling it an insult to former offenders who are genuinely working toward rehabilitation.
“Consuming real crimes that likely had real victims as entertainment is grotesque,” he stated. “Crime is not entertainment. Especially for the perpetrators, it must not be treated as such. Profiting off a past where you hurt others is unacceptable. A past offense should never become a weapon for success in life.”
