As you might know, Ririka Sutoh, a member of NMB 48, announced her intension to marry to someone in the midst of the 9th general election of AKB group. It brought a controversy of what is AKB group and what is idol-ship? They say, having love relationship with boy is not allowed in the group because the girls are the “idol” which occupies central position of receiving fan’s passion and support. In a way, they sell a dream, which can be named as the ideal girl of fan, although fan’s love would be never fulfilled. What Sutoh has done at the election turned over such fundamental understanding of what the idol should be. In my eyes, there is nothing to it but for her to be criticized.
