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Kuwait Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Japanese filmmaker Fukada casts queasy gaze on J-pop idols
Exploitative contracts that force young female Japanese pop stars to forego relationships are at the heart of director Koji Fukada's latest film, which has premiered in Cannes. The 45-year-old director said he was inspired by a news report about a Japanese "idol", as the starlets are known, who was sued by her management agency after breaking a "no dating" clause. Fukada cast former idol Saito Kyoko in the lead role of his feature "Love on Trial" which tells the story of a young performer who undergoes a similar ordeal. "I felt a deep discomfort, a real unease when I found out, and that's what made me want to look into the subject a bit and then turn it into a screenplay," he told AFP in Cannes. The film highlights the unequal relationship between management agencies and the idols, who are usually teenagers trained to become a mixture of pop star, online influencer and advertising prop. But the core of the film examines the more unusual demand that the women remain unattached and chaste -- in order for their older, male fanbase to project their fantasies. As the lyrics to the songs of Fukada's fictional five-member group "Happy Fanfare" make clear, the performers spend their time singing about the idea of falling in love. "The industry really encourages this kind of artificial love between fans and their idols," the director of "The Real Thing" and "Harmonium" explained. "As soon as an idol appears to have a romantic relationship with someone, it's well known that they lose a lot of popularity." As well as selling merchandise, the women also offer their time for meet-and-greet events -- for a price -- at which fans can come to talk to them, hold hands, and take selfies. 'Unusual job' The activist director, who has previously spoken out about sexual harassment and the Japanese film industry's over-reliance on manga adaptations, believes the J-pop industry reflects the prejudices of Japanese society. "There is a lot of prejudice and gender discrimination towards women in our patriarchal system," he said. "We tend to believe that women must be pure, untouched and submissive." As his film makes clear, many of the stars themselves are happy to encourage this image in pursuit of fame and wealth. "I met idols who are still active. Some believe that the ban on romantic relationships is a problem. Others think it's normal because it's a very unusual kind of job," he said. He hopes his film, which is set for release from May, will spark debate in Japan. "I tried to make a film that could bring out each person's perception of gender, love, freedom, and issues of discrimination," he said. "And that every viewer, whether they agree or disagree with the choices made by the heroine, could take part in a discussion around these questions." - AFP
Japan Today
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Japanese filmmaker Fukada casts queasy gaze on J-pop idols
By Adam Plowright 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. The 45-year-old director said he was inspired by a news report about a Japanese "idol", as the starlets are known, who was sued by her management agency after breaking a "no dating" clause. Fukada cast former idol Saito Kyoko in the lead role of his feature "Love on Trial" which tells the story of a young performer who undergoes a similar ordeal. "I felt a deep discomfort, a real unease when I found out, and that's what made me want to look into the subject a bit and then turn it into a screenplay," he told AFP in Cannes. The film highlights the unequal relationship between management agencies and the idols, who are usually teenagers trained to become a mixture of pop star, online influencer and advertising prop. But the core of the film examines the more unusual demand that the women remain unattached and chaste -- in order for their older, male fanbase to project their fantasies. As the lyrics to the songs of Fukada's fictional five-member group "Happy Fanfare" make clear, the performers spend their time singing about the idea of falling in love. "The industry really encourages this kind of artificial love between fans and their idols," the director of "The Real Thing" and "Harmonium" explained. "As soon as an idol appears to have a romantic relationship with someone, it's well known that they lose a lot of popularity." As well as selling merchandise, the women also offer their time for meet-and-greet events -- for a price -- at which fans can come to talk to them, hold hands, and take selfies. The activist director, who has previously spoken out about sexual harassment and the Japanese film industry's over-reliance on manga adaptations, believes the J-pop industry reflects the prejudices of Japanese society. "There is a lot of prejudice and gender discrimination towards women in our patriarchal system," he said. "We tend to believe that women must be pure, untouched and submissive." As his film makes clear, many of the stars themselves are happy to encourage this image in pursuit of fame and wealth. "I met idols who are still active. Some believe that the ban on romantic relationships is a problem. Others think it's normal because it's a very unusual kind of job," he said. He hopes his film, which is set for release from May, will spark debate in Japan. "I tried to make a film that could bring out each person's perception of gender, love, freedom, and issues of discrimination," he said. "And that every viewer, whether they agree or disagree with the choices made by the heroine, could take part in a discussion around these questions." © 2025 AFP
France 24
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Japanese filmmaker Fukada casts queasy gaze on J-pop idols
The 45-year-old director said he was inspired by a news report about a Japanese "idol", as the starlets are known, who was sued by her management agency after breaking a "no dating" clause. Fukada cast former idol Saito Kyoko in the lead role of his feature "Love on Trial" which tells the story of a young performer who undergoes a similar ordeal. "I felt a deep discomfort, a real unease when I found out, and that's what made me want to look into the subject a bit and then turn it into a screenplay," he told AFP in Cannes. The film highlights the unequal relationship between management agencies and the idols, who are usually teenagers trained to become a mixture of pop star, online influencer and advertising prop. But the core of the film examines the more unusual demand that the women remain unattached and chaste -- in order for their older, male fanbase to project their fantasies. As the lyrics to the songs of Fukada's fictional five-member group "Happy Fanfare" make clear, the performers spend their time singing about the idea of falling in love. "The industry really encourages this kind of artificial love between fans and their idols," the director of "The Real Thing" and "Harmonium" explained. "As soon as an idol appears to have a romantic relationship with someone, it's well known that they lose a lot of popularity." As well as selling merchandise, the women also offer their time for meet-and-greet events -- for a price -- at which fans can come to talk to them, hold hands, and take selfies. - 'Unusual job' - The activist director, who has previously spoken out about sexual harassment and the Japanese film industry's over-reliance on manga adaptations, believes the J-pop industry reflects the prejudices of Japanese society. "There is a lot of prejudice and gender discrimination towards women in our patriarchal system," he said. "We tend to believe that women must be pure, untouched and submissive." As his film makes clear, many of the stars themselves are happy to encourage this image in pursuit of fame and wealth. "I met idols who are still active. Some believe that the ban on romantic relationships is a problem. Others think it's normal because it's a very unusual kind of job," he said. He hopes his film, which is set for release from May, will spark debate in Japan. "I tried to make a film that could bring out each person's perception of gender, love, freedom, and issues of discrimination," he said. © 2025 AFP
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Kia establishes IT Education Center to empower youth in Côte d'Ivoire
Kia's Green Light Project continues to drive community growth and self-reliance through sustainable projects worldwide Since 2012, Kia has established 19 hubs across 15 countries, with 12 successfully transferred to local authorities Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Kia has established an IT education center in Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire, under its Green Light Project (GLP) to provide essential digital skills and empower local youth. The center will run IT training programs for local youth through June 2027. Under Kia's vision to become a Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider, GLP delivers a range of programs and infrastructure to communities in need across sectors such as economy, education, healthcare, and environment, with a focus on nurturing sustainable growth and self-reliance. The event was attended by Moussa Diarrassouba, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Family, Women, and Children, Broba Bi Daniel, Deputy Mayor of Bingerville, Djan N'goran Patrice, Deputy Mayor of Béttié, Soojin Jeon, Consul of Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Côte d'Ivoire, and Eunju Lee, Head of Sustainability Management Team at Kia. This project in Côte d'Ivoire expects to resolve limited access to IT education and infrastructure in the country, enhance IT skills for youth, and reduce unemployment, ultimately. The center's curriculum includes a six-month course, comprising four months of basic IT education followed by two months of specialized training. Participants will gain practical skills in IT areas while also receiving training geared toward employment and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Kia plans to implement a mobile IT education program to reach young people in the remote region of Béttié, further expanding access to digital skills. Since its launch in 2012, GLP has established schools, health centers, and vocational training facilities across 19 hubs in 15 countries, including Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Albania, and Vietnam, benefiting approximately a million people. Kia has successfully transferred operational authority for 12 hubs in nine countries, including Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, to local governments and institutions, with plans to transfer the remaining seven hubs after project completion. Kia emphasized that GLP demonstrates the company's commitment to empowering communities through strengthening self-reliance by establishing infrastructure. The company also reaffirmed its dedication to addressing pressing social issues and working toward a sustainable future for the next generation. In addition to GLP, Kia is actively engaged in various social contribution initiatives under its mission to "contribute to a safe, free, and sustainable life for humanity." Notable projects include: Green Trip, a project to enhance mobility rights and enable people with disabilities to travel freely. Harmonium, a project for supporting multicultural youth's social integration Tidal Flat Vegetation Restoration, aimed at protecting coastal ecosystems by planting and studying salt-tolerant vegetation. The Ocean Cleanup, a project to collect and recycle marine waste plastics Kia Corporation – about us Kia ( is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been providing mobility solutions for more than 75 years. With 52,000 employees worldwide, a presence in more than 190 markets, and manufacturing facilities in six countries, the company today sells around three million vehicles a year. Kia is spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging millions of people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around. The company's brand slogan – 'Movement that inspires' – reflects Kia's commitment to inspire consumers through its products and services. For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at For media inquiries, please contact: Gaia Cianci Account Manager E.
Boston Globe
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
American music, Symphony Hall's 125th anniversary, and the natural world: Inside the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2025-26 season
Moreover, he said, the upcoming season 'represents the beginning of a deep exploration of the humanities' in the orchestra's work, with more supplementary events hosted by the BSO's humanities institute to be announced at a later date. 'We're beginning to weave big ideas and big questions into our work, as a way for our art form to have a dialogue between the past and present,' Smith said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The 'E Pluribus Unum' programming is dispersed throughout the season, beginning with an all-American gala with music director Andris Nelsons on the podium during the season's opening weekend (Sept. 19), and concluding with John Adams's 'Harmonium' in the final program of the season, paired with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk, a frequent guest whom Smith described as a 'great friend of the orchestra.' (April 30 - May 3) Advertisement However, many of the 'E Pluribus Unum' highlights are concentrated in January 2026, including concert performances of Samuel Barber's 'Vanessa' presented in collaboration with Boston Lyric Opera, conducted by Nelsons with soprano Jennifer Holloway in the title role and Marshfield-grown mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey as Erika (Jan. 8 & 10); an all-John Williams program, also conducted by Nelsons and featuring pianist Emanuel Ax (Jan. 22 - 25), and the Boston premiere of BSO composer chair Carlos Simon's gospel-inspired 'Good News Mass,' conducted by BSO artistic partner and youth and family concerts conductor Thomas Wilkins (Jan. 29-31). Nelsons is helming 14 different programs during the season, his twelfth as music director. His dance card includes 'Missa solemnis' (Oct. 9-11), Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms' (Jan. 15 & 17), John Adams's Violin Concerto, featuring Augustin Hadelich (Oct. 16-18), and a shared date with 2025 Tanglewood Music Center conducting fellows Leonard Weiss and Yiran Zhao (April 3). The season's lineup of guest conductors includes Jonathon Heyward and Nodoka Okisawa, making BSO debuts; Andrey Boreyko and BSO assistant conductor Anna Handler, making planned Symphony Hall debuts; and several familiar faces including Herbert Blomstedt, Domingo Hindoyan, Thomas Adès, Susanna Mälkki, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Scheduled soloists with the BSO in the coming season include Yuja Wang, Seong-Jin Cho, Midori, Yunchan Lim, and Joshua Bell, among others. Hadelich, who made his BSO debut in 2012, performs several times in the coming season as artist in residence, offering a solo recital (Oct. 19) and chamber performances with pianist Orion Weiss (Feb. 1) and the Boston Symphony Chamber Players (Feb. 15) in addition to appearing in two programs with the orchestra. Advertisement In addition to its subscription programming, the BSO is also hosting three touring orchestras for single dates at Symphony Hall. The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra makes its Boston debut on Nov. 14; Nelsons brings the Vienna Philharmonic and soloist Lang Lang through on March 3, in a co-presentation with Celebrity Series of Boston; finally, the orchestra of Interlochen Arts Academy visits on March 15 with Cristian Măcelaru conducting a program including a new work for cello and orchestra by Wynton Marsalis, featuring Yo-Yo Ma. The Boston Pops also have several dates – most of them conducted by Keith Lockhart – dispersed throughout the season, presenting programs that will celebrate the work of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Sept. 20), Day of the Dead (Nov. 1), Lunar New Year (Feb. 21), and Irish musical traditions (March 14). 'We're finding opportunities to weave Boston Pops programming into the season broadly,' Smith said, 'anchored by Holiday Pops and Spring Pops.' The season's opening festivities commence on Sept. 17 with a free Concert for the City, featuring the BSO, Pops, and Tanglewood Festival Chorus with Nelsons, Lockhart, and Wilkins sharing the podium. As has become custom, a plethora of Boston-based groups will be offering pre-concert performances around Symphony Hall. Subscriptions are available now, with single tickets on sale July 31. BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Begins September. 617-266-1200, A.Z. Madonna can be reached at
