Cannes Hidden Gem: Koji Fukada’s ‘Love on Trial’ Probes the Dark Heart of Japan’s Idol Industry
Many careers come with sacrifices, but few demand as much personal surrender as that of the Japanese idol. A hybrid of pop star, teen model, and influencer, idols have been a mainstay of Japanese pop culture for decades, ubiquitous on the country’s screens, billboards, and shopping mall sound systems. But the problematic power dynamics that…