Society

Former AKB48 star Mayu Watanabe retires from show business, citing health issues

Jun 02 (Japan Times) - Mayu Watanabe, a former member of the popular Japanese all-girl idol group AKB48, has retired from the entertainment industry due to health reasons, her agency said Monday.

Watanabe, 26, has left the agency, saying health issues would make it difficult for her to continue working in the industry. One of the better known members of the group during her stint, she has had health concerns for several years.

"We have terminated her contract according to her wishes, putting an end to her time in show business," the agency said. Her resignation was effective Sunday.

Watanabe, who joined AKB48 in 2006, was known affectionately as "Mayuyu" by fans. She was often in the top rank of the annual popularity vote, one of the perks being that one can appear in the next AKB48 single.

After leaving the group in 2017, she continued her career as an actress, starring in television dramas and on stage.

LDP Leadership Election Hinges on Unique Two-Stage Voting System

The upcoming Liberal Democratic Party leadership election will determine not only who leads Japan’s ruling party but also who is likely to become the country’s next prime minister, and the voting system itself plays a decisive role in shaping the outcome. The election is decided by a combination of votes from LDP lawmakers in the National Diet and ballots cast by the party’s grassroots members across Japan, creating a two-stage process that balances national and local influence.

Why Did a Wooden Home in Tokyo Collapse?

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Hokkaido Saw Record-Breaking Rainfall in Just Six Hours

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Kamakura Introduces Bathing Tax to Tackle Overtourism

Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture has approved the introduction of a bathing tax, but the measure is drawing strong criticism from local hot spring operators since only two facilities fall under the new levy.

Osaka Introduces First Nationwide Cap on ATM Transfers

Osaka Prefecture has revised its ordinance to set a cap of 100,000 yen per day on ATM transfers made with cash cards by certain elderly account holders, marking the first such restriction in Japan.

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Crossbow Killer Says Relatives Deserved to Die

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