A kiss that may have compromised a career: Japan boy band member Yamaguchi in centre of a storm

You are hot, successful and famous. And above everything- you are part of a cultural phenomenon in a country where pop culture is worshipped. Your fan-following, as expected, is immense. Among your globe-trotting fans are obviously women. Young girls- if that makes it loud and clear.

So what happens next? It is anybody’s guess. No it isn’t what you thought. What transpires between a private meeting among a smitten girl fan and yourself is just a kiss. Yes it was forced from your end. And next up- for rendering an apology in the public space where in admission of guilt you are moved to tears, it appears your career is now at stake.

A forced kiss is definitely attacking the dignity of a woman. There’s never a doubt about that. But does that tantamount to a horrendous crime of the extent like a rape of sexual molestation? While this isn’t for us to worry, it certainly may be weighing heavy on the mind of famous Japanese pop idol Yamaguchi, part of a famous boy band- Tokio.

Seen visibly disturbed and with bitter regret, Yamaguchi- who is the cynosure of many a girl’s eye- made a public apology of his incoherent act against a young girl. You felt for him when he said, “No public apology is ever enough.” But at the same time you felt for the girl who is only in secondary school. What worries the public at this time in Japan the most is that the perpetrator- Tatsuya Yamaguchi- is around 46 year old.

That’s one heck of an age to be forcing yourself on a school girl who may still be learning how to tie a perfect ponytail. But from the perspective of Yamaguchi, who has mentioned that he would’ve definitely stepped back from any public performance even if the police had not taken up the case- an entire career is on stake.

In the immediate aftermath of the scandal hitting the boy band Tokio- Yamaguchi, one of the most familiar faces in Japanese pop culture has suspended all his work with the band. But it remains to be seen if the fan-base will ever warm up to Yamaguchi again. Having already cut an honestly disconsolate figure and maintaining remorse about the unwanted incident, will Japan accept him again?

Or will tarnish remain forever to remind fans of blithe where there was fanfare? Tokio, meanwhile, haven’t given a public statement as yet. The group, rising to prominence in 1990s when it’s contemporary members were in their teens and pre-teens