In 2015, a Japanese teen idol was successfully sued by her management agency for violating a clause in her contract that forbade dating. Enforced celibacy is one of the core tenets of the idol industry, wherein performers are expected to cultivate an illusion of intimacy with their fans ¡ª something that would be compromised by the presence of a significant other.
This practice draws ready condemnation in Western countries, but in Japan people tend to shrug it off as just the way things work. Koji Fukada tries to cater to both camps in ¡°Love on Trial,¡± an original story inspired by the 2015 case, though this muted and equivocal film may end up satisfying neither.
The Toho-produced drama met with mixed reviews when it screened at Cannes Film Festival last year. Although Toho¡¯s involvement guarantees a wide theatrical release in Japan ¡ª and the casting of former Hinatazaka46 mainstay Kyoko Saito in her first lead role is likely to be a draw ¡ª Fukada isn¡¯t exactly catering to mainstream tastes here.
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