Former Cherry bullet member Kokoro spoke out after reports surfaced that she had been removed from the Japanese girl group ME:Meaccusing his agency of gross abuse of power and making up claims about his mental health in order to terminate his contract.
In an interview given on January 14 to the Japanese weekly Shukan Bunshun, Kokoro stated: “The company lied and said I was sick. I want to clarify the misunderstandings they created and claim my human rights.”
Kokoro debuted in 2019 as a member of Cherry bulletbut left the group in December of the same year. In 2024, she ranked 11th Produce 101 Japan The Girls and debuted again in April of the same year as a member of ME:Meconcentrating its activities in Japan. However, before she even reached two years after her debut, her exclusive contract with LAPONE GIRLS was terminated.
Japanese outlet Josei Jishin previously reported that Kokoro had been fired due to repeated “problematic behavior” claiming she had taken time off for treatment and rest due to ill health, but continued to go out without hiding her face, eventually leading to her removal. Kokoro has strongly denied this narrative.
According to Kokoro, the company frequently violated members’ privacy by conducting sudden weight checks, searching their rooms and refrigerators, and even inspecting trash cans. She said she asked managers to respect their private lives and often acted as a mediator between members and management because she cared deeply about the team. Kokoro explained that his efforts to resolve even small complaints for the sake of members may have been seen by executives as contrary to the company’s intentions.
He added that since his debut he has had almost no days off. At one point, overwhelmed and exhausted, she left a group chat shared by members and executives as a sign of herself “I couldn’t stand it anymore.” Although she remained in the dormitory and alternative methods of communication existed, the company reportedly treated this incident as evidence of a mental health problem and urged her to seek medical attention.
Kokoro said she underwent short consultations at two hospitals in Tokyo, 30 minutes at Hospital A and 15 minutes at Hospital B, and medical staff told her she was able to continue working. However, on March 24, 2025, company executives reportedly informed her and her mother that both hospitals had diagnosed her with borderline personality disorderadvising her to rest and focus on her treatment before returning. Shocked, she agreed then and there.
Four days later, her mother received an email informing her that an official notice would be released announcing Kokoro’s suspension from activities. Kokoro said he did not agree with the wording but accepted it because his top priority was to return to the group.
While resting in his hometown of Nagoya, Kokoro continued weekly treatment visits in Tokyo and said he was desperate to return to activities. To stay close to music, she went to karaoke alone and wrote songs at home. Doubting the diagnosis, she later went to a hospital in Nagoya, where a doctor reportedly told her borderline personality disorder it was not possible to diagnose it in such a short consultation time.
When Kokoro reported this to Hospital B, she claimed that the doctors were agitated and denied ever making such a diagnosis or informing the company that she was unable to work. Medical records reportedly stated that his condition was as follows “Well.” After her lawyer investigated further, the hospital responded that a nursing assistant had mistakenly conveyed the diagnosis, allegedly based on a manager’s claims that Kokoro had “he ran out like a fury”, “he screamed and cried”, AND “he was waving a knife shouting that he wanted to die”.
Kokoro has strongly denied all these claims, calling them “complete lies”. He said he was desperate to return to the team and repeatedly drafted and deleted messages asking when he could resume activities. In July, she returned to her dorm to prepare for her return, but she said senior managers entered her room without permission, telling her she was “going crazy” from being in a dark room. Although a manager promised to help her return, she was ultimately informed that renewing her contract was impossible.
When she asked for a clear reason, Kokoro said she was only told that they were there “multiple reasons” and he had that violated company rules something he strongly denied. “I have absolutely no memory of breaking any rules. I never broke them,” he stated.
Kokoro expressed deep regret that she was never allowed to directly greet fans or properly greet her fellow members. “I just wanted to show the fans that I’m healthy” he said, adding that he wants to continue to repay the support he has received and that he will continue to try to return to the stage.
ME:Me is a girl group under LAPONE GIRLS, CJ ENM’s Japanese label. The group originally debuted with 11 members but reorganized into a seven-member group following the departure of Kokoro, Ran, Shizuku, and Kokona.
Sources: Daum
