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Zoey Zhang

A man in Japan paid 600,000 yen (US$4,000) for a dream date with his favourite idol, only to discover that a bodyguard she had in tow was her husband.
Touka Toozuki, an underground idol from Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, is known for her petite frame and sweet looks.
Unlike mainstream pop stars, underground idols perform in small local venues and manage themselves without big talent agencies.

Toozuki has built a following of more than 80,000 on social media, where she describes herself as living with two cats.
In October, a fan known online as Nino went viral after sharing his experience with Toozuki.
He claimed to have adored the idol for four years, spending millions of yen on her photo books and other activities to support her career.
In April, Toozuki offered fans a “Disneyland one-day date” experience.

Nino jumped at the chance, paying 600,000 yen for tickets, meals and photos, with Toozuki promising it would feel “just like a real date”.
She brought along a bodyguard for safety, whose costs were also covered by Nino.
They spent the day riding attractions, sharing meals and posing for photos.
Nino described it online as a “magical, dreamlike day”.

But days later, his dream fell apart when he discovered the “bodyguard” was actually Toozuki’s husband. How he found out remains unclear.
“My favourite idol not only hid her marriage, but her husband came along, and I paid for all three of us,” he wrote, saying he felt emotionally deceived.
His post went viral online, racking up hundreds of thousands of shares and sparking a heated debate.
One netizen said: “Poor Nino. He must have lost faith in people.”
“Toozuki disrespected her fan. She should refund him. No matter what, she should not have hidden her marriage,” said another.
On October 12, Toozuki issued a statement saying she was cooperating with the police and her lawyers over the incident.
She said the date took place after she had left her idol career and was working as an influencer. She also apologised for the concern it caused her fans.

Toozuki is yet to address the issue of her marriage.
As of this writing, Nino has made his social media account private, saying he never intended to spread rumours or cause harm through slander.
In Japan, underground idols are expected to stay single to keep fans devoted.
The so-called no-dating rule fuels a business built on selling innocence and fantasy, while tightly policing idols’ private lives behind the scenes.
Last July, Japanese idol Momoka Tojo was told by her management to post a solo goodnight selfie every evening for a year as proof that she was still single after she shared photos of her boyfriend online.


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Japanese man pays US$4,000 for date with idol, discovers bodyguard is her husband

A man in Japan paid US$4,000 for a one-day date with a female idol, only to discover that her bodyguard was actually her husband. Photo: SCMP composite/X.com

Underground idol Touka Toozuki poses for her fans under an umbrella. Photo: Handout 

Nino and his idol Toozuki spent a whole day enjoying a range of activities. Photo: Handout

Toozuki and Nino pose for an artistic shadow selfie during their day-long date. Photo: Handout

Underground idol Toozuki had promised Nino a “Disneyland one-day date” experience. Photo: Handout

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Besotted fan of petite ‘underground idol’ shells out on tickets, meals, photos, even pays for minder; says he feels ‘emotionally deceived’


Besotted fan of petite ‘underground idol’ shells out on tickets, meals, photos, even pays for minder; says he feels ‘emotionally deceived’.


Japan

Icons and Influencers

Japanese man pays US$4,000 for date with idol, discovers bodyguard is her husband

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Besotted fan of petite ‘underground idol’ shells out on tickets, meals, photos, even pays for minder; says he feels ‘emotionally deceived’

Besotted fan of petite ‘underground idol’ shells out on tickets, meals, photos, even pays for minder; says he feels ‘emotionally deceived’