When you’re an idol trying to make a buck in a crowded marketplace, sometimes you gotta go to extremes to get attention. At least that seems to be the philosophy driving one idol group, whose unfortunately-named star made headlines this week with a daring performance. Some wondered, however, whether her agency wasn’t exploiting her to make a fast buck.
And then came the story about the fan who was forced to drink dish soap.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First, some necessary background that will put everything in context.
A show in the snow makes people crow
The group in question, Planck Stars (プランクスターズ), is no stranger to controversy. In fact, it’s openly courted it. (Hint: you can also read プランク as “prank.”)
The group styles itself as a 自由奔放悪餓鬼集団 (jiyū honpō warugaki shūdan), or “band of free-spirited delinquents.” The group used to refer to itself as “idols” but dropped that moniker in 2023. (I’ll use the two terms interchangeably below.)
Other catch copy has referred to the unit as “Japanese Society’s Trash Group.” Past incidents have reportedly involved leaving a performance midway to buy churros, stepping on fans, and unleashing 300 live crickets on their audience.
In other words, when you show up to a Planck Stars show, it’s not because you’re expecting normalcy.
Planck Stars disbanded in October 2024 but recently reunited. As part of its reunion tour, it did a show at the famous Sapporo Snow Festival.
And that’s where the controversy kicks off thanks to one member, Anaru Rairai (愛成来来). And yes, folks, that’s her professional name and it’s how it’s pronounced. We double-checked and then we triple-checked again.
(For those not in on the joke, anaru is also how you say “anal” in Japanese. Planck Stars denies this is what her name is supposed to mean. It claims that Anaru wanted the name because she wrongly assumed that “anal” was the English translation of おしり, or “butt.” Anaru confirmed this, admitting she originally wanted to be named “Oshiri-chan.”)
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Anaru is one of the group’s original members, alongside leader Majikami Kanna. She’s also no stranger to controversy. Clips exist of her eating food offered to her by fans. Sometimes, right from their mouths.
For the Sapporo performance, Anaru allegedly decided to do the entire set in a high school swimsuit. Video and shots of the performance quickly went viral online as attendees shared stunning winter shots from various angles.
When an apology isn’t an apology
My own reaction on seeing photos was to say, “That’s cute,” shrug, and keep scrolling. This is, after all, nothing out of the ordinary. Online adult creators, for example, often do snow shoots clad in this much – and often less – for the aesthetic and attention.
Many people thought the same way I did. Others, however, wondered whether Anaru had truly done this of her own volition.
Japan’s idol scene sports big-time groups that play to stadiums, as well as a large number of underground groups (地下アイドル; chika aidoru). Some of these are self-managed, while others are produced by agencies.
In recent years, there have been numerous stories about the abuses that some idols have endured at their agency’s hands. In one of the most infamous cases, NGT48 made idol Yamaguchi Maho apologize after she spoke out about an attempted sexual assault. In another case, members of the group SKY GIRLS’ successfully sued their management company after employees called them “pigs” and ordered them to lose weight.
Given such cases, many wondered whether Anaru truly wanted to perform in the cold or whether the group’s management made her. It couldn’t have been a comfortable performance either way. Another tongue-in-cheek shot posted by Planck Stars shows another group member, Candy Vivid Paradise, shivering as she performs in a tie-dye t-shirt and swim trunks.
In response, Planck Stars issued a statement insisting that Anaru performed in the swimsuit “out of her own strong desire.” At the same time, it apologized for “inviting misunderstanding and criticisms,” and for “not preventing actions that would inevitably be construed as inappropriate at an event of a public nature.” It vowed not to let performers go out semi-naked in the freezing cold again.
Shortly after this post, however, Planck Stars put up promotional fliers for future events featuring Anaru Rairai performing in the snow. It even went so far as to announce an auction for her swimsuit, prompting Anaru herself to respond, “Waitta minute.” (The agency made clear that the swimsuit has been washed. Sorry, perverts.)
The detergent incident
That’s where it looked like the Planck Stars incident was going to rest. But then another allegation surfaced.
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User @napo_d_ went viral on X when they brought up another incident involving Anaru Rairai in which the star made a fan drink detergent. According to the poster, the fan got upset and sued. Instead of protecting its star, Planck Stars allegedly forced Anaru to shoulder the entire burden of the financial settlement.
The poster was very careful to say they’d heard this second-hand from a friend deeply into idols. After this post received over 30,000 likes, Planck Stars officially responded with a very carfully worded retort:
“There’s a lot of conjecture flying around in this post, but outside of making someone swallow detergent, it’s totally false.”
The agency pointedly didn’t deny the group made a fan drink dish detergent – likely because they know that footage of the incident still exists:
At any rate, the agency appears to regard the dish soap matter as “settled.” Indeed, it seems to relish the publicity in true P. T. Barnum fashion. The group argued that members have a “close relationship” with their fans, citing Anaru’s dining habits as an example.
For her part, Anaru Rairai seems to relish the attention as much as her management. She continues to share footage and pics of the performance, and keeps making cheeky tweets of her own.
Some idol units are truly exploitative. Planck Stars, however, appears to be having a righteous laugh at everyone else’s expense. And for now, at least, its stars seem more than happy to embrace their roles as anti-social misfits.
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Sources
「雪まつり」炎上のアイドル、ファンに“洗剤”飲ませたのは「事実」事務所認める…ネットでは「傷害事件」と批判殺到. Flash
Planck Stars. Wikipedia and Wikipedia JP
