Revelation 18:2
"And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons and a prison for every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and hateful bird!'"
June 22, 2025 Atlanta, United States
Excerpt from the CNN & NHK special program, broadcast on June 22, 2025, one week after Haruka Aihara's suicide.
The cameras shone with an intensity that only the most prestigious CNN studios could achieve. The studio showed four people sitting on a large sofa while behind them a city that was light in the darkness dispelled the mists that played that night.
Host James Carter, wearing his signature tuxedo, adjusted his tie as he smiled at the camera. It was the most important news story of his entire career, and the program promised to have an audience that would take off like the Challenger had, although he hoped his program would not have the same ending.
—We are at a historic and deeply painful moment for the global music industry. Today marks one week since Haruka Aihara, the brightest star Japan has ever given the world, decided to end her life. For many analysts, the blow is comparable to that of Michael Jackson's death more than a decade ago.
Jennifer, with that same smile, looked at the camera while the curves of her body enhanced her figure in that neckline that barely covered her breasts, while her blonde hair swirled around itself as it zigzagged down her slender figure.
—That's right, Carter—Jennifer adjusted her neckline—.Haruka wasn't just an artist. She was an unprecedented cultural phenomenon. She topped the charts in more than 30 countries, sold billions of records, and her voice was described by critics as 'a voice capable of opening the gates of heaven.' But behind the magic that radiated from her voice, there were shadows that darkened her future. Today we know that it was her own younger sister who found her lifeless body in her Tokyo home. An event that has left a deep scar not only on that family, but on an entire generation that considered her an angel on earth. An idol in every sense of the word.
Carter turned to the other two present as the cameras followed him mesmerized.
—We have with us David Allen, a psychologist with a doctorate from the International Center for Mental Health, and Yumi Nakamura, an NHK journalist who has thoroughly researched the world of Japanese and Korean idols.
Mr. David and Ms. Nakamura smiled as the lights fell on them.
—David, what happens in the collective mind after an event like this? How does the fall of an idol as great as Haruka impact these generations?
David swallowed and leaned slightly forward as he articulated with his hands.
—When such an idealized figure dies so tragically, especially by suicide as in this case, it produces a 'mirror effect' in thousands of young people who projected their own emotional deficiencies and wounds onto that artist. It's as if they were saying, 'If even she, who had everything, couldn't bear to live, how can I?' This is what we call the Werther effect, which is extremely dangerous for people who are more impressionable—He smoothed his hair. Swallowing hard, he continued—Many may even normalize suicide.
Carter nodded thoughtfully as he stared intently at the floor. Then he turned to Yumi as the cameramen watched silently.
—Miss Nakamura, your latest report uncovered some alarming practices. How inhumane can the world of idols really be?
The woman crossed her legs as she tried to speak in a way that would sweeten the atmosphere with buckets of sugar; or at least that was what she was trying to do.
—Extremely. Many idols, both male and female, are subjected to grueling routines from the age of twelve or thirteen, as that is the ideal age. There are cases like Haruka's, who was taken into that age range a little younger. Rehearsals of up to sixteen hours a day, dangerously restrictive diets, cosmetic surgery imposed by contract, and a level of public scrutiny that does not forgive a single mistake. Haruka was one of the greatest exponents of their modus operandi. Her voice, her figure, her smile, everything was designed to maintain a perfect image for both the general public and her die-hard fans. Today we are beginning to see the toll that perfection has taken.
—Miss Nakamura, in many movies and dramas, the world of idols is presented as something magical and perfect, full of glamour and romance. What is your opinion on this? How realistic is it?
Yumi looked thoughtfully at Carter as she gathered her thoughts.
—I think movies idealize this world too much. They romanticize it, showing only the bright and charming side, the beauty of fame, but they forget that behind that image there is a much harsher and more complex reality. It's very exhausting work, both physically and emotionally. A rose may look beautiful, but it always has thorns. Sooner or later, you'll end up hurting yourself with those thorns. The same goes for being an idol. There are enormous sacrifices, constant pressure, and a lack of privacy that the public often doesn't want to see. Many singers even debut in the red.
Carter looked at the cameras; he had to ask that question or he wouldn't be able to sleep.
—Are there any signs of direct abuse by the industry in Haruka's case?
Yumi remained silent while David watched everything with curiosity; it had always aroused his interest and he couldn't pass up this opportunity to find out the truth.
—It is believed that there are, based on multiple anonymous testimonies, but they are difficult to prove—She turned her gaze to nothing in particular—.Former members of Haruka's entourage have spoken anonymously about producers who harassed her, about contracts that virtually made her the property of the agency, with no possibility of anything else, about financial penalties so severe that it was impossible to break the cycle without going bankrupt. Many experts point out that the same system that took her to the top was the one that ultimately destroyed her. Unfortunately, we have nothing to prove it, the agency won't say anything, and Haruka's mother refuses to give interviews. —Hearing that, Miss Nakamura, is bloodcurdling. What now? What could the industry do to prevent a tragedy like this?
—That's the biggest question. Today, outside the house where Haruka was found, thousands of fans from around the world have left flowers, letters, and tears. Unfortunately for everyone, that pain is not enough to bring her back or... change anything.
—Fans sometimes expect their idols to be perfect and happy all the time, and when they see that this is not the case, they feel disappointed. On the other hand, idols can feel trapped in that idealized image, unable to show who they really are. That's why I think it's important for us to understand that behind that beautiful rose are thorns, no matter how beautiful the rose may be. All humans have stories to tell, we all have that cross to bear— David said—.But that idealized image makes everything in the fans' subconscious be governed by that. It's a very sad reality that not only idols face, but also Hollywood celebrities.
Carter scratched his beard.
—Miss Nakamura, how common is this level of exploitation? Isn't Haruka simply an isolated case because of her fame and the impact of her inhuman talent?
—Not at all. In fact, since Haruka's death, we have received dozens of anonymous confessions from retired idols and others who are still active. Out of respect, their faces and voices have been distorted, but let's listen to some excerpts. With your permission, we can play the recordings.
His eyes sparkled like burning coal in an old locomotive or embers in a fireplace.
—Of course, Miss Nakamura— he said, turning to the cameras—.Roll the footage.
The screens and cameras stopped focusing on them as they presented the videos that Nakamura herself had made. The footage showed an empty room with a table and chair in the background where different young people sat. The screen first showed the blurred silhouette of a young woman with a distorted voice.
—I was 14 when I signed my contract. They were very strict about my weight, to the point where they called me fat for gaining just 300 grams. Once I fainted during rehearsal because I was so weak from dieting, and the choreographer lost his temper, telling me I was ungrateful and lazy for not appreciating the enormous sacrifice he was making by teaching me to dance. My family depended on the money, so... I kept going. Even before my debut, I had to lose ten kilos in a week, so I only ate ice while exercising—tears began to fall from her face and her voice began to break—.I cried every night because I was so hungry. I thought I was going to die, I was afraid I wouldn't wake up at dawn. My colleagues were very scared when they saw me.
The image changed. A boy was now sitting with a distorted voice and the outline of his face blurred.
—The boys were forced to smile, but some of us even suffered physical harm because we were sometimes hit or pushed, and there were also financial penalties. It didn't matter if you had a fever or were tired, the show could not be canceled under any circumstances, regardless of your health or emotional state. One way or another, they always got what they wanted. My manager hit me once' cause I felt sick and couldn't perform at my best at a concert. She abused me and all the members of the group. Sometimes it happened to us and we couldn't do anything about it. We tried to talk to the CEO of our agency and the record label, but... neither the higher-ups nor anyone else did anything. It wasn't until the case escalated and became somewhat public that our former manager was fired.
A third voice appeared, soft and sensitive. Probably from a girl no older than twenty.
—I was drugged without my knowledge. They gave me 'vitamins' for energy, and then I found out it was amphetamine. I didn't sleep for three days. I lost so much weight that my hair started falling out, and the doctor told me I was dying, that I wouldn't live long if I continued like that.
Carter was sweating while Mrs. Nakamura just stared at the floor in silence. The cameras turned back on and focused on Carter.
—These stories... I have no words, Miss Nakamura... I can't believe they're real.
—They are, Carter. And they're just a tiny reflection of the hell that many idols live in silence. The system isolates them, makes them feel replaceable, takes away control of their own bodies and minds. Sometimes, they don't even have control over their own lives. Haruka was the spark that ignited this conversation, but behind it lies an invisible graveyard of broken young people. For a long time now, there have been cases of groups suing their record labels for abuse. Hollywood itself has been plagued by scandals involving similar situations, parties, and other incidents that have put them in the eye of the storm.
—Do you think the world will finally look at these industries differently?
—I'd like to say yes. But sales continue to grow, fans buy every album, every lightstick, every ticket. As long as the audience rewards the product without questioning the process, the system will have no reason to change.
At that moment, they returned to the images of the makeshift altar in front of the house where Haruka lived. On top of the piles of white flowers were signs with phrases in Japanese, English, Spanish, Korean... all with the same lament: "We're sorry, Haruka" "Fly high."
—The networks are still down, right?
—Of course, Carter. Four days ago, I couldn't even log into Twitter or Instagram.
Images from the news feeds were shown. Twitter displayed "BREAKING: #RIPHaruka has been trending worldwide for 96 consecutive hours. Experts say this is the first time a single hashtag has broken existing records."
Instagram, on the other hand, showed another story: "Idols, actors, athletes, politicians... everyone is posting messages. Millions of fans are uploading videos of themselves crying, burning lightsticks, or filling the streets with makeshift altars. Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, France... the whole world is in mourning." Spotify had also posted news about the status of its platform: "Plays of Haruka and Edelweiss have skyrocketed by 2300%. Their albums have risen to #1 in more than 37 countries."
Reddit forums were full of people theorizing and expressing their grief, with many questions of all kinds: "How do we move on? Did you see the insider thread saying that the agency was exploiting her?" "I'm broken."
"It hurts to think that maybe they killed her, or pushed her to it..."
Since Haruka's death, the world and major cities were filled with messages on their screens. "🇯🇵 NHK: Haruka, the fallen angel who brought the planet to its knees, has died." "🇰🇷 Yonhap: Idol suicide revives debate over systemic abuse in the industry."
🇺🇸 CNN: A blow to the heart of global entertainment.
Carter wiped the sweat from his brow with a small handkerchief that he folded methodically so he could have a little discretion and wipe his sweat when the spotlights were on him. The audience was skyrocketing; his program was the most watched at that very moment, as the entire United States was watching what they were talking about and showing.
—And to provide a right of reply, we have in the studio Mr. Hiroto Nagase, CEO of Hoshizora Entertainment, the company that manages Haruka Aihara's career. This interview was difficult to obtain. We appreciate your attention."
The cameras turned off again, and everyone who tuned in to the program, the CEO of Hoshizora Entertainment, could be seen on the television. He looked serious, wearing his characteristic suit and tie, the gray color perfectly matching his gray hair. Or perhaps what was left of it.
—I want to make something absolutely clear to our shareholders, to Haruka-san's fans, and to the international audience. The rumors circulating about mistreatment, abuse, or inhumane practices are completely false.
A Korean journalist stared at him intently.
—But, Mr. Nagase, there are anonymous testimonies. And several former reality show participants have told stories very similar to what Haruka is said to have experienced. How do you respond to that?
Nagase adjusted his tie with a tense hand as a drop of sweat ran down his cheek.
—Social media is a breeding ground for unfounded rumors. Haruka-san was a dedicated professional, loved by everyone at the agency, respected. If she faced personal problems, she never formally brought them to our attention. And we deeply respect her privacy. Any personal problems Haruka experienced and brought up were immediately addressed by her manager.
A CNN reporter approached with a microphone.
—But can you guarantee that no producer ever crossed the line with her? No extreme diets? No contractual threats?
Mr. Nagase breathed calmly, his mind busy calming down, and looked at those present as the cameras reflected his face around the world.
—Our contracts are within the Japanese legal framework. All medical and artistic decisions were made with the explicit consent of Haruka-san and her family. We cannot control the inner demons that each artist may carry...
—Many fans see this as an evasion. And the truth is that Haruka's death has uncovered a hotbed that the public was unaware of but that was already slowly coming to light. Today, it is not only sadness, but mistrust that is growing. How do you respond to such a situation, Mr. Nagase Hiroto?
The camera returned to Nagase. His rehearsed smile had disappeared. He tried to compose himself when they focused on his gray eyes, which blinked rapidly as more beads of sweat rolled down his body.
—Haruka will always be our brightest star. And we are confident that time will prove that our company acted with absolute transparency.
The image returned to showing videos, this time of Haruka's funeral. A sea of white flowers scattered across the streets, fans fainting from the heat and grief, others praying, while sobs filled the air. Some girls held signs that read "Fly high, Haruka" and "Your voice lives on in us," while many wore shirts from her group. Giant images on all the buildings showed Haruka's group with a single message: "She has fallen, the Angel of Japan has fallen."
The camera showed empty streets in Korea, fans crying at airports in Germany, candles lit in Times Square. Even in Middle Eastern countries, where Japanese pop music is not common, improvised murals appeared, and people paid their respects to a twenty-year-old girl who brought the world to its knees with her voice.
The image returned to the studio. The smiles had completely disappeared, and Carter watched them seriously while David continued to explain more details about the human psyche.
—It is also important to emphasize that when a figure as great and important as Haruka dies in such tragic circumstances, a phenomenon called 'dissociative collective mourning' occurs. People who don't have healthy ways to process their grief identify so intensely with the artist that... they end up replicating her end.
The background screens showed more information about what David was fervently explaining.
—Like the increase in suicides these days?—Yumi interrupted.
—Yes. We have documented more than a hundred cases worldwide directly linked to her death. And that's just in the last week. It's devastating.
As he spoke, clips were shown of the coffin being lowered amid sobs. White flowers fell from the sky as thousands of fans cried in the streets. Nozomi's trembling hands could be seen holding a white bouquet, dressed like a doll, staring with lifeless eyes at the coffin where her sister lay. Her aunt hugged her, trying to keep her from falling to the ground, as the eight-year-old girl could not stand up in that situation.
Yumi's voice sounded in the background.
—The problem is not just the grief. It's the system that made this possible. Many idols, male and female, contact us in secret to talk about inhumane diets, covert sexual exploitation, pressures that push them to the brink of psychosis. But they are so afraid, so trapped, that they cannot escape. Haruka was... sadly, an extreme example of what goes on behind the scenes.
The image returned to Carter as Yumi tried to maintain her composure.
—And what will happen to her little sister?" Jennifer was able to break the silence that had consumed her after everything she had heard that night.
David turned to her and looked at her a little sadly.
—She will most likely need a lot of professional help. She's only an eight-year-old girl. But we are confident that with her mother, professional help, and years of psychological treatment... she will be able to overcome this..."