What if you were about to make your premiere as an idol… and then your producer disbanded the group? Sounds like a setup for a certain group, but sadly it’s true. Kousai MIRAGE, a planned underground idol act, was about to make their debut when the plug was pulled suddenly. But truth, as usual, is stranger than fiction.
Meet the Group
Kana, Ayana, and Aimaru were about to live the dream — well, sort of. “Underground idols” aren’t as big as groups like AKB48, but they still have devoted fan followings and can get very successful. And their trio, Kousai MIRAGE, already had funds from early supporters.
Their producer, too, was apparently a big-hitter in the industry, with plenty of connections. Or, at least, that’s what he said. More on that in a minute.
A few days after Christmas, early supporters (and the idols themselves!) were shocked when the producer announced on the trio’s official Twitter that the group was being dissolved before it even premiered. No straight reasons were given. The producer made a few vague comments about how they were keeping things within the group, and how very sorry he was.
And that did not site well at all with one of the girls.
Idols Strike Back
The girls, however, weren’t taking this sitting down.
Apparently there was far more under the surface, and Kana took to Twitter to make it known. “Tell them the truth!” she demanded in a tweet to the producer. But not only was the truth not forthcoming — the producer deleted the group’s official Twitter.
With the support of Ayana and Aimaru, Kana was more than happy to fill in the blanks on her Instagram.
First, what you may have already guessed: the producer wasn’t a real producer, but rather a civilian with no connections to speak of. And the cut-and-run wasn’t the first of his crimes: Kana cited long, late-night phone calls, as well as daily sexual harassment.
You can probably infer how it all ended: the producer has disappeared, and taken the funds from early supporters with him.
The girls and their early fans are devastated, but Kana isn’t letting that stop her. “Starting from zero,” as she says on her Twitter, she’s determined to become an idol. And considering how tough she’s been through this whole ordeal, we’re cheering her on!
What’s your take on the Kousai MIRAGE story? Tell us in the comments!
