No, I quite disagree it's about rules (or contract terms). Rules and contracts only codify industry practice. You can say Miss Mikami violated contract or rule or even informal expectation and therefore can be "graduated" out. That only explain the code or the mechanics of the industry, it doesn't say anything if the industry practice is fair or not.
If you say, well that's how it is, any girl is free to not join the industry and/or quit at any time. The problem is, if a lot of talents (defined as a potential star, potential success) feel industry practice is unacceptable to them, then it's the industry's and fandom's loss.
I think there are two root factors, (1) industry practice may be anachronistic, out of step with social norms, if young generation of Japanese feel a job is just a job and certain industry sector still stuck to the old ways of expecting employees to give up their individuality for a career, and young people can find other career choice (say Youtube channel), then that industry will lose out. (2) if the fandom holds unreasonable expectation to their idols, and insult idols for, basically, nothing; then the blame needs to go to the fans. Sorry I don't believe the customer is always right. If the fandom is a virgin herbivore loser in real life, but hiding behind an online avatar, behave like a bully, then someone need to give them a spanking, figuratively speaking. The madness is that a large part of the fandom is also very cynical about it and whine that most of
it is fake, industry constructs. And these cynical fans overlap with the stuck-up fans who demand that their idols adhere to the
rules no matter it's fake industry constructs.
Problem with AKB/SKE etc is... their market proposition is exactly these otaku loser segment. Their branding is mediocre talents for a mediocre price point. The industry boos feel that if they went and lecture or educate the fandom, they might just "yeah, I don't want to live this loser fantasy life anymore, I should stop spending all my (mom's) money on cheap kitsch like AKB".
So it's up to
reality to catch up and bite these closet bully in the ass. One day they will wake up and see that many AKB "graduate" into AV, soapland and delivery health. There is nothing wholesome (a key branding value for AKB) about them!
People are just jealous because they will never have the chance to date their favourite idol or someone as beautiful.
See above... Also this is only tolerable for 12 years olds.
The proper altitude is for a boy fan to improve himself, get rich, get famous, make himself handsome (plastic surgery included), lose weight or gain muscle or get smart, do whatever it takes to be worthy for a boy friend of an idol. Reality is that not only are these fans completely unqualitied for a BF for a reasonably attractive girl, they are completely unqualitied to deal with the issues or pressure to be BF to a famous person.
So it's much much more (worse) than 12 year old boyish emotional issue, it's not just "Shoko got a BF, and I'm sad because I'm not him". It's "I can't get a GF, my life sucks so I can't accept my idol to enjoy a happy life."
My own personal position is, due to the glamour (mainstream idols) and/or easy money (AV) it's inevitable that some dark practice are present in the industry(s). Some people are gullible or tempted by it and that opens them to exploitation. Unfortunately that's human nature and authority should control it, but it's hopeless to stamp it out completely. I think we should be both fair minded (criticize bad practice) and realistic (understand everyone has some responsibility). Ultimately I want the industry (the one I actually care about is AV, I'm not into J-pop and K-pop) to be attractive and not too exploitative so that any hot girl, in some need of money, can choose to do a short stint (a few vids) or a career (2+ years). We fans should have a balance between our masturbatory needs and AV idol's personal dignity (even if their persona is to be tied up, humiliated, gang r***ing and bukkaked).
