A Japanese record label is under intense criticism after it made public its plans to release a posthumous CD of the deceased enka singer Aki Yashiro featuring nude photos taken in private during her youth. The move has triggered outrage from politicians, the public, and people who handled her legacy.
The CD, due to go on sale next Monday, is said to have two nude snaps of Yashiro as a “bonus feature.” The company, which operates in the Kagoshima district, said that the pictures were snapped by Yashiro’s former lover while she was still in her 20s. Yashiro, who is an idol singer well-loved by the people as the enka queen as well as being a jazz singer, died at age 73 in 2023.
Governor Criticizes Release Photos of Aki Yashiro
Takashi Kimura, Kumamoto governor — the same prefecture Yashiro was from — strongly criticized the action in a blog post that appeared on Wednesday. “If this is not revenge porn, then what is it?” Kimura said, describing the action as “unforgivable” and equating it to the sharing of intimate photos without permission.
Makoto Ono, a spokesperson for the firm running Yashiro’s official website, also reacted with strong criticism. “The announcement (about the release of the nude photo) is a very unpleasant occurrence and unacceptable,” Ono said in a press release earlier this week.
Ono’s company stated that it had issued a legal notice in March requesting the record label to call off the CD release, but has yet to receive any response. Despite the resistance, the record company informed Japanese media that it owns the rights to the nude photos, justifying its move.
Public Launches Hashtag and Petition to Stop CD Release
Public outrage has spread quickly on social media, with the hashtag “Protect the dignity of Aki Yashiro” trending across all platforms. An online petition for the cancellation of the CD has already amassed more than 7,000 signatures.
“Naked photos being released posthumously without consent. This horrible thing cannot occur,” a user posted on X (formerly Twitter), summing up the general opinion.
Yashiro, who had appeared since the 1970s, was imprinted upon Japanese music culture forever and gained distinction through their famous guest performance with French popular star Sylvie Vartan on stage for the 2018 Japanese concerts.
