News On Japan

Mixed Martial Artist Comments on Protege's Future Contracts

Mikuru Asakura Speaks on the Rise of Mizuki and Her Impact on His Future Plans

TOKYO, Jan 23 (News On Japan) - Professional mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura updated his YouTube channel on the 21st, addressing the criticism aimed at his protege Mizuki.

Asakura announced that Mizuki, who had become a topic of conversation, married a 33-year-old non-celebrity and was expecting a child. Due to the significant backlash Mizuki received, Asakura hastily posted a video titled "Regarding Mizuki-chan's Controversy."

Asakura, who had discussed the announcement of the marriage and pregnancy with Mizuki about ten times, explained, "I told her that the comments could get pretty harsh, but she still wanted to go through with the marriage with strong determination. So, I decided to respect her choice and support her decision."

As Mizuki is contractually obligated to continue appearing in videos, Asakura said, "She wanted to be honest from the start, rather than having viewers notice her pregnancy later on."

Mikuru Asakura: Regarding comments suggesting that her contract should be terminated, Asakura responded, "It isn't up to me whether to cancel the contract. I'm leaving it to Mizuki-chan, so if she wants to continue, I'll support her, and if she wants to stop, she's free to do so." However, he agreed with comments saying, "It would be a big problem if it weren't for this agency," and expressed his concerns about Mizuki's partner, saying, "I'm wondering what the other person thinks. They haven't even come to greet me."

Asakura continued, admitting he was very worried due to the short period of their relationship, but after hearing Mizuki's story several times, he believes that "she couldn't find anyone better than this person, and that he's a wonderful person." Asakura regards Mizuki as a colleague and a sister-like figure, saying, "As long as she's happy, that's all that matters." He also addressed third-party perspectives, "There are various opinions like irresponsibility, but within our circle, the only thing that matches those comments is what we think about the other person. Getting married and having a baby is a joyous occasion, and I hope everyone can celebrate with us."

Furthermore, Asakura clarified on behalf of Mizuki, who appeared on ABEMA's original love reality show "Don't Be Fooled by Flowers and Wolves" (2023), that she didn't have a boyfriend at the time of the show, so there was no overlap. Lastly, Asakura announced, "MAPROMOTIONS, the talent agency I run, is looking to put more effort starting from 2024. We are recruiting women with a strong desire to not marry and to become famous," and called for applicants with the goal of producing major actresses.

Born on April 18, 2000, Mizuki's special skill is doodling, and her hobbies include motorcycles and darts. After moving from her hometown in Hyogo Prefecture to Tokyo, she began her modeling career.

She caught Asakura's attention with her beauty and style, as well as her dreams, during his YouTube channel's luxury car taxi project. Her Instagram account gained 100,000 followers within five days of its launch, and she became a model and ladies' designer for the apparel brand MATIN AVENIR. In 2023, her appearance on ABEMA's "Don't Be Fooled by Flowers and Wolves" led to a surge in female fans, expanding her range of activities.

Source: MDPR

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Rain affected parts of Japan on Tuesday morning as a low-pressure system and front moved through, bringing heavier downpours in some areas. Skies are expected to clear across much of the country this afternoon. However, yellow sand drifting in from the Asian continent is forecast to spread over a wide area, raising concerns over reduced visibility and worsening health conditions.

Japan's weather agency and the Cabinet Office issued a 'Hokkaido-Sanriku Offshore Subsequent Earthquake Advisory' after an earthquake measuring upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale struck off Sanriku.

JR East has launched a preview version of its new online Shinkansen booking platform, JRE GO, promising reservations in as little as one minute and easier handling of sudden schedule changes.

A bear that had remained in a residential area in central Sendai since early Sunday morning was euthanized last night in an emergency cull. No injuries were reported.

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Entertainment NEWS

In today's video, we explore the April performances at the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo! (Kabuki In-Depth)

A man accused of violating copyright law by publishing so-called spoiler articles summarizing films on the internet was handed a suspended prison sentence after the Tokyo District Court ruled that the posts infringed copyright.

A theater directly connected to Tokyo Station is set to open in May inside a large-scale redevelopment complex scheduled to fully launch in autumn, marking a new step in efforts to strengthen the area’s cultural and artistic presence.

A farewell performance titled "Farewell April Grand Kabuki" is being staged at Osaka Shochikuza in Chuo Ward, Osaka, which is set to close in May due to the aging of the building, marking the beginning of a two-month run of kabuki performances that have drawn audiences with comedies and dances featuring a colorful cast of characters, continuing through April 26th.

Today we have a look at the kabuki performances taking this April at the Shochiku-za theatre in Osaka! (Kabuki In-Depth)

A talk event was held at a bookstore in New York on March 9th to commemorate the publication of the English translation "SAKURA" of the bestselling novel "Sakura" by Naoki Prize-winning author Kanae Nishi, who appeared alongside American translator Allison Powell to discuss the book’s central theme of family love.

The winner of the 2026 Japan Booksellers Award, in which bookstore staff across the country vote for the book they most want to sell, was announced on April 9th, with Ryo Asai, 36, receiving the top prize for the novel "In the Megachurch," published by Nikkei Publishing.

Athletes from across Japan boasting finely trained physiques are set to gather in Okinawa for a major fitness competition, as more than 300 participants prepare to compete in the "Muscle Gate" body make contest, marking the event’s first-ever staging in the prefecture.