Netflix star Hana Kimura's death rips lid off spiral of cyberhate

Jun 16, 2020 | News On Japan

Jun 16, 2020 (Nikkei) - It is less than a month since 22-year-old Hana Kimura, an up-and-coming professional wrestler, died. She was known for taking part in the popular Japanese reality show "Terrace House," which follows the lives of six young people who live under the same roof while looking for love.

The show, which has earned a devoted global fan base thanks to Netflix, has fans grieving around the world.

Lala Keo is one of them.

The 21-year-old U.S. resident has been an avid viewer since 2018 and describes Kimura as "bubbly" and "energetic."

"When I found out about Hana's death, I was truly shocked," Keo told the Nikkei Asian Review. "I didn't even know her personally but I actually cried for about three hours."

"Terrace House" aired its first season almost eight years ago, in 2012. Since then, the show has turned into a cultural phenomenon, especially among people in their teens and 20s. Last year, it ranked No. 2 on Netflix's most-watched list in Japan.

Hana Kimura during the Women's Pro-Wrestling Stardom in Tokyo on March 8. She gained fame and became a target of online bullies while taking part in Netflix's "Terrace House" reality series. Â© Getty Images

However, the series has come to an abrupt end; production of the current season was terminated following Kimura's death.

In her last Instagram post, Kimura shared a picture of herself and her cat with the words, "I love you, have a happy long life. Sorry." Several notes have been found in her apartment, one addressed to her mother.

Kimura's death has been linked to online abuse, as she had posted a series of self-harm images on Twitter shortly before passing away and had implied she had suffered from cyberbullying.

Many believe hateful, malicious comments like "Go die" and "You're disgusting" started to flood Kimura's social media after an episode of "Terrace House" in which Kimura and another cast member held a heated argument.

Japan's Airports and Bullet Trains Packed as Five-Day Holiday Ends

Airports and railway stations across Japan were crowded on September 23 as travelers returned from their hometowns and holiday destinations on the final day of the five-day Silver Week holiday, with international flight arrivals reaching their peak and many afternoon Shinkansen services fully booked.

Typhoon No. 25 Leaves Major Rail Disruption Across Chiba

Extensive railway disruption continued across Chiba Prefecture on September 23 as JR East warned that several lines damaged by Typhoon No. 25 would remain closed beyond the Silver Week holiday, even as flights returned toward normal, all typhoon-related expressway closures were lifted and some highway bus services resumed. The storm has left widespread damage to railway tracks and embankments, with flooding, landslides and fallen trees complicating restoration work.

Typhoon No. 25 Death Toll Rises to 9, With 4 Still Missing

The death toll from Typhoon No. 25 rose to nine on September 23, with four people still missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, as renewed rainfall raised fears of further landslides in communities devastated by the storm.

Road to Imperial Palace's Otemon Gate Flooded by Typhoon

The road leading to Otemon Gate at Tokyo's Imperial Palace was flooded on September 22 after heavy rain from a typhoon caused water in the surrounding moat to overflow.

Japan Pushes India to Final Ball in Historic Sano Cricket Match

Japan came within two runs of producing one of international cricket's biggest upsets on September 22, pushing reigning T20 world champion India to the final ball before losing a rain-shortened match at Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Escaped Emu Captured After Report of Wandering Ostrich

An emu that escaped from the home of a traveling zoo operator was captured after wandering through a residential neighborhood in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, on September 23, following a police report from a resident who mistook the bird for an ostrich.

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

Emperor and Empress Visit Ghibli Park

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture on September 20, touring exhibits that recreate famous scenes from Studio Ghibli films and posing for a photograph with the character No-Face.

Four Teens Rearrested Over Fatal Assault on 17-Year-Old

Police in Kanagawa Prefecture have rearrested four teenagers on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old high school student who died after being assaulted in Sagamihara in August.

Why Kansai People Go to Drinking Parties

Drinking parties remain a lively part of social life in Kansai even as younger generations increasingly turn away from alcohol and izakaya bankruptcies rise at a record pace, with customers describing the gatherings less as occasions to drink heavily and more as opportunities to maintain friendships, meet new people and build connections across generations.

'Tokuryu' Criminal Gangs Target Elderly Victims with Refrigerator Trick

Anonymous and fluid criminal groups known in Japan as "tokuryu" are adopting increasingly elaborate tactics, including a scheme in which elderly victims are persuaded to hide cash inside refrigerators before thieves enter their homes, as authorities struggle to combat networks whose members often have no direct contact with one another.

Scam Base Targeting Japanese Run From Lavish Bangkok Mansion

A luxury mansion in Bangkok described as resembling a palace was being used as a base for a specialized fraud operation targeting Japanese people, with Thai authorities detaining 14 people, including four Japanese men.

Copper Thieves Target Remote Nagano Shrine

Copper roofing has been stripped from Shinano-no-miya Shrine in Oshika Village, Nagano Prefecture, leaving the wooden structure exposed in the latest of a series of similar thefts reported at shrines across the prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >