A veteran Japanese singer has been suspended by his agency after admitting to an extra-marital affair.
Johnny & Associates said Masahiko Kondo’s “thoughtless” behaviour deserved “strict punishment”.
The 56-year-old has since been barred from all work engagements.
It is common for public figures in Japan to face censure and strict penalties after an affair is exposed, but some people have questioned the professional repercussions of this.
Mr Kondo’s relationship was first reported by a gossip magazine last week.
Johnny & Associates, one of Japan’s most powerful talent agencies, said that as a married man Mr Kondo’s “behaviour was thoughtless” and “lacked awareness and a sense of responsibility”.
“After careful consideration we decided that strict punishment was needed,” it said in a statement.
Mr Kondo, who was a J-Pop idol in the 1980s, had apologised and offered to step back to reflect on his behaviour and “to become a better person”, the agency added.
The singer, who is also known as Matchy, was widely criticised on social media as some fans expressed dismay about his behaviour, while others expressed sympathy for his wife.
But the news also did not surprise many as there had been previous reports about Mr Kondo’s affairs in Japan.
“In the current context of attention to women’s issues and #MeToo, his censure is a wake-up call for male celebrities,” said Professor Jennifer Robertson, an anthropologist specialising in Japan from the University of Michigan.
Some have questioned the scrutiny of his private life while not condoning his behaviour
