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The story
On August 30, seven-member idol group WEST. announced that Ryusei Fujii and Nozomu Kotaki would be leaving the group. Amid the uproar that followed, attention turned to “F BULL’S Cafe,” the dog cafe run by member Terufumi Kiriyama, where a ¥60,000 bottle of champagne was served at a birthday party held right after the departure announcement. On 5ch’s Geinou/Sports News+ board, the thread split down the middle — critics calling it “money-grubbing” versus defenders arguing “if fans are paying willingly, it’s none of outsiders’ business” — sparking a wider debate over whether a dog cafe engaging in host-club-style spending is appropriate.
On August 30, it was announced that Ryusei Fujii (33) and Nozomu Kotaki (30) would be leaving the seven-member boy band WEST. The sudden announcement sent shockwaves through the fandom, and has also brought renewed attention to the other members’ activities.
WEST. debuted in April 2014 as the seven-member group “Johnny’s WEST,” made up of Terufumi Kiriyama (37), Taiki Shigeoka (34), Junta Nakama (38), Tomohiro Kamiyama (33), Takahiro Hamada (37), plus Fujii and Kotaki. Beloved for their colorful personalities and easygoing Kansai vibe, the group had gone 12 years without ever losing a member. With Fujii and Kotaki now departing, fans are anxiously wondering what direction the group will take.
Amid all this, one topic drawing attention is the dog cafe “F BULL’S Cafe,” run by Kiriyama.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
What's so wrong with it?
It's a business meant to make money, right?
If fans are fine paying for the champagne, outsiders have no business complaining.
Am I wrong?
It's not a charity, you know
That was the older Tanaka brother, right?
Guess it became okay once the old Johnny's agency collapsed
Re: #11
I think it's just because he loves French Bulldogs and keeps them
Hostess clubs run the gamut, but plenty of cheap ones are plenty with just ¥10,000
A dog cafe that serves champagne is basically a host club anyway
Though I do think the champagne's reasonably priced
Is what he's doing about making money? Obviously — why else would he bother if it didn't pay?
He's not even really an "idol," so stop brainwashing yourselves into thinking he is and forcing that lifestyle on him
As long as they've filed a food-service notification with the health department, it's fine
A license under the Adult Entertainment Business Law is only needed if a hostess sits and serves customers alongside them
Then again, it's their own money, and they're presumably sober when they order it, right? lol
If the agency's okay with this, the other guys might as well try something similar
Whether you're married or have kids, everyone supports their oshi differently
If you don't like it, just quietly walk away
Why'd you go and write that?
Background and Key Points of This Story
WEST. debuted in April 2014 as a seven-member group and had gone 12 years without ever losing a member, making Fujii and Kotaki’s departure a major event for fans. Kiriyama’s side business running the dog cafe reportedly wasn’t permitted back under the old Johnny’s agency, and is seen as one example of the wider trend of talent taking on side jobs since the shift to the STARTO ENTERTAINMENT system. Opinion in the thread split over whether serving champagne resembles host-club-style monetary exchanges — voices calling it “cheap” next to hostess-club or host-club rates were roughly balanced against those framing it as “profiteering” off fan psychology. Some posters also pointed out that running a venue serving alcohol falls under licensing categories in the Adult Entertainment Business Law, and whether a simple food-service registration is enough depends on how the business actually operates. Note: in compiling this article, posts amounting to personal attacks on Kiriyama’s or others’ appearance or private life have been excluded.
*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[STARTO] Talk of “feels like profiteering” — WEST.’s Terufumi Kiriyama serves ¥60,000 champagne at his dog cafe, stirring controversy after birthday celebration held right after Fujii & Kotaki’s departure announcement [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★]“.
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