Assault of Maho Yamaguchi

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On December 8, 2018, Maho Yamaguchi, then a member of the idol girl group NGT48, was assaulted by two male fans of the group inside of her apartment building. Details of the incident were not disclosed until January 8, 2019, when Yamaguchi personally did on social media, also explaining that her personal information was leaked to the men through other members of NGT48, and denouncing the group's management for inaction on the issue. She was then allegedly pressured into apologizing in public, sparking outrage in Japan and abroad, with many celebrities including fellow NGT48 members accusing the group's management of victim blaming.

The NGT48 management assigned a female manager for the group, saying a woman would be better able to understand members' situations, and tasked a third-party committee to examine the incident, including the possible extent of other group members' involvement. The ensuing press conference led to a public clash when Yamaguchi rebutted management's claims in real time on Twitter, and led to local companies choosing not to renew yearly sponsorships. The decision by the agency to pardon those members who had been intimate with fans ultimately pushed Yamaguchi to withdraw from the group. Afterward, the management initiated a civil lawsuit against her alleged assailants, which ended in an out-of-court settlement.