I have been following the K-Pop scene for quite a while and it seems to be a very similar system to J-Pop. I have heard interviews with popular girl group Girls Generation where they've have said openly they they are not allowed to date and they can't eat much. Even the boy bands are not allowed to date as far as I know. (In fact many have to hint that they may be into each other}!
The Asian music industry is a whole other world. I've heard stories of cruelty, sexual harassment and 'slave contracts'. It seems that in Asia,entertainers are treated the same as any manufactured product by the companies they work for. Whilst I appreciate the discipline and commitment that these artists endure to be skilled at what they do, I think their superiors need to accept that these people are human beings who need human relationships just like anyone else.

AKB48 are a product of Japan's sex industry, and their concert hall is located in Japan's largest pornography district, Akihabara. They started out on late-night TV shows to live audiences of men where they would play 'games' generally involving sexualised poses and having water thrown on their t-shirts. They've recently been marketed to wider audiences, but their fan base is still overwhelmingly men in their 20s and 30s. Hardly any women/girls attend their concerts. Reading their online fan forums is a scary experience--full of obsessive discussion of what the girls look like. They are sexually harassed by their male fans, there are a number of media reports about this. AKB48 members are filmed in music clips running along beaches in skimpy bathers, and this is the tenor of many of their photoshoots and 'image'. See this article http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201301190013
I think more commentators on Japanese 'culture', particularly Japanese popular culture, should be more aware of just how influential the sex industry is over all aspects of Japanese society. Particularly in relation to junior 'idol' culture, it is well known that child pornography and prostitution are huge problems. NHK recently broadcast a documentary on the problem, and prefectural governments are enacting ordinances to address it. There is plenty of information about the involvement of both the Japanese and Korean 'talent' industries in the organised prostitution of young women/girls. But it's important to note that AKB48 is fundamentally different from the girl/boy bands of J- and K-pop. They are uniquely and solidly connected to the Akihabara-based sex industry, and the head-shaving incident sent a clear message to the group's pedophile fan-base that the jimusho will continue to provide them with virginal girls who they can look forward to seeing in pornography soon after they turn 18.
See also http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/japans-child-porn-addiction-8208043.html

Though your opinion on the subject matter appears insightful at a first glance, you have many untrue facts and are continuing the stereotype that Japan is a foreign concept that is oh so different from the West.

First, To claim that Japan's pop-music industry is "bizarre" neglects the fact that the entertainment industry in many Western countries can be seen as equally bizarre. Take the recent fascination with reality shows such as "Toddlers and Tiaras" and "Extreme Couponers". Both shows create horrible images of women but are popular amongst the masses.

Second, your claim that "The members of AKB48 all have long hair" is wrong. Look at Miyazawa Sae, former member Maeda Atsuko, Shinoda Mariko, and former kenkyuusei and Team K member Mitsumune Kaoru. All have, or had, short hair and were extremely popular.

Third, Nakanishi Rina did, in fact, receive complaints from fans about her debut as a porn star. In fact, when the AKB48's name was used in promoting her pornography book, the company was not fond of this because they do not what their group to be associated with the porn industry. Obviously, photobooks are used as masturbation material, however they are not soft porn.

Unlike what many people are beginning to believe due to this scandal, the world of J-pop is not completely evil. Sure, there are shitty companies that are horrible to their idols, however that is not the case with every single group. Most of the famous idols within AKB48 could easily leave and have very successful careers as actresses, models, singers, etc. Their contracts are not "slave contracts" similar to DBSK, because many members leave willingly (see Maeda, Itano Tomomi's recent announcement, Kasai Tomomi, etc.) and are not expected to stay long as an AKB member. As a feminist and an AKB wota, I see problems with the way AKB sometimes represents it's idols. However at the end of the day, I love the girls, the music, the songs, and the essence that is AKB48.

PS
the video games are in fact targeted towards the older male audience. The only video games AKB has ever released are AKB 1/48 and it's sequels, which are dating sims. Please check all your facts and don't assume shit cause you will most likely be incorrect.

Just want to point out I did a quick internet search on Manabu Oshio, and he was sentenced to almost 4 years prison time for contributing to the death of the hostess in his apartment (apparently he supplied her with ecstasy and failed to get her medical assistance) and the drug possession charge so I'd hardly call that a situation where the hostesses death was "never mentioned again." He was also dumped by his management, his wife and his record label.

You're obviously trying to make a point, and there's no doubt women and men are held to different standards in Japan and everywhere else, but a little fact checking would be good.

I'm a Japanese political scientist who did PhD at Flinders on the Australian Democrats in the early 1990s. I've been teaching Australian studies and comparative politics in Japan.

Until around a year ago, I have no interest in the AKB48 group. Like many left-intellectuals, I rather had a negative view. Sure, some of their music videos are disturbingly sexual. However, to infer the group as a part of sex industry is quite offensive and defamatory. And for most of the ordinary Japanese, Akihabara is not the centre of sex industry either.

The AKB48 group has four theatres in Japan, has made a successful foray into Jakarta and on track to start operation in Shanghai. Considering its phenomenal popularity in China, I've started to think the AKB could be the circuit breaker for the Sino-Japanese tension. In order to understand politico-societal implications, you need to look beyond best-selling single CDs which are pitched to teenage market. One of the AKB's distinct features is their daily theatre shows. As there are 3-4 teams in Tokyo alone, it is obvious songs from single CDs are not enough. In total, there are over 500 original songs whose lyrics are written by the chief producer Akimoto Yasushi. It is here you can dig up some gems, including a song for peace between former adversaries, an anti-war song, a song for popular uprising against dictatorial regime, and a list goes on.

And the group includes members such as Akimoto Sayaka (unrelated to the chief producer Mr Akimoto). She is one of senior members and perhaps the best singer and performer of the group. In a country where sexual minorities are still subjected to terrible discrimination and stereotype, she has tried to reach out the LGBT community. When she was asigned to Australia for a TV programme and visited Aboriginal art workshop, she produced a painting like one of the dreaming stories. Asked why she did that way, she said that, as she had listened to the history of Aboriginal people and culture, she would like to pay a respect to the Aboriginal people, their history and cultural heritage. Ms Akimoto hardly fits a stereotype of manipulated and exploited young woman. I secretly call her AKB's John Faulkner.

It is also wrong to say that the AKB only attract male fans. My guesstimate is that 30% of their fans are young girls from Y6 to Y12. One of the reasons for the AKB's success is members' extensive use of the SNS. Members tweet or update blogs frequently about their daily lives and thoughts to the public. Surely the management teams cannot control 240 memnbers tweeting or updatingf blogs.

This brings to the latest controversy concerning Minegishi Minami. It is clear Ms Minegishi cut her hair by her own will. It was also her own will to put it onto YouTube. Why? Because considering the past disciplinary actions, she would not have been able to remain in the group, even as the most junior trainee. It is their strict rule, at least for now, that members should not have love affairs with others (other groups also have this as an unwritten rule). Some were dismissed with less offence than Ms Minegishi's. Had the management teams simply demoted her to a trainee, there could have been an uproar from members and fans as favouritism. By cutting her hair to extremely short length, she ensured her own survival.

You may ask what kind of organisation would compel its member to such an excessive mea culpa. I would say a political party. Ms Minegishi's action reminds me a former PM Kan Naoto who shaved his head and went off to the 88 temples pilgrimage in Shikoku when he resigned from the DPJ leadership in 2004.

If you equate the AKB with a political party, the AKB members are members of parliamentary party, the management teams the party machine and enthusiastic fans rank-and-file members. Within the parliamentary party, there are front benchers (selected AKB members) and back benchers. The ALP used to choose front benchers by a causus ballot. In the Liberals, it is the prerogative of parliamentary leader. In the AKB, it has been the management teams, especially My Akimoto, who decide the front benchers. However, there was a revolt from grassroots fans (rank-and-file party members) and resultant product is the annual 'general election' in June. Here, ordinary party members are given a chance to choose ministers, even Prime Minister. In a recent event, the management teams put a new line-up of theatre managers up for endorsement. Rank-and-file duly rejected a new nominee for a new manager of the Tokyo theatre. Just imagine the NSW ALP put a vote of confidence for party secretary and members rejected Arbibs and Bitars.

A political party needs incentives and disciplines. The most prominent prohibition is now widely known. Sure it is harsh. To have a boyfriend or a girlfriend is not illegal. However, to cross the floor and vote against your party's policy is not illegal either. Incentives for the AKB members are promotion to front bench or job opportunities outside the AKB such as TV shows, dramas or musicals. To achieve that, the AKB members have to earn fans and/or hone their singing, dancing and dramatic skills. For fans, incentives are more intangible. Apart from shaking members' hands at monthly meetings, they can get tremendous warm inner glow if their favourite members get promotion or secure better than expected results at the general election. Some see the burgeoning communitarian solidarity among fans of lesser known AKB members.

Finally, i would like to commnet on one aspect which has escaped the attention so far. Ms Minegishi's misbehaviour was scooped by a weekly magazine published by quite a reputable publishing house. The magazine obviously had a reporter stalked 20-years old young lady, following whereever she went, staked out overnight and took her photos by a long-range camera. It seems to me a clear and gross violation of her privacy. The magazine has targetted the AKB members for many years. For what? Satisfied with seeing reputation of young girls destroyed? What kind of people are they?

I'm sorry to bother you and your readers with this long letter. I've finally got a chance to outline what I'm thinking about the AKB phenomenon with a bit of political scientist flavour.