From Beloved Star to Persona Non Grata: The Fall of Ryoko Hirosue

Last year, Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue (43) sparked controversy with her scandalous affair, leading to her being labeled as the top star people no longer want to support.

On the 20th of last month, Japanese media outlet Flash released the results of a survey on female Japanese stars entangled in extramarital affairs, revealing the top stars whom people no longer desire to support. With 500 women participating in the survey, Ryoko Hirosue ranked first, Erika Karata in second place, and Ai Fukuhara in third.

Ryoko Hirosue became involved in controversy last June due to her affair with renowned local chef Shusaku Toba (45). The scandal surfaced when the pair were seen entering and leaving a hotel, drawing widespread criticism as both parties were married at the time. This isn’t the first time Hirosue has been entangled in an affair scandal. She previously faced similar allegations involving fellow actor Takeru Sato (34).

A woman who participated in the survey expressed her disappointment upon hearing the news of Hirosue’s affair, saying, “She’s messed up again.” Others criticized her, saying, “She seems to like men too much. Her ethics are skewed,” and “It hasn’t even been a year since the affair scandal. How can she make a comeback?” Hirosue established her own company in February and announced that she plans to devote herself to acting and take her work seriously.

In July of the previous year, Hirosue disclosed on her official website that she and her former husband, Candle June (Jun Izutsu), had agreed to divorce after discussions. She further revealed that she had been granted custody of their three children. According to local media, Shusaku Toba has expressed his desire to marry Hirosue within the year to a friend.

Erika Karata (26), who ranked second in the survey, was at the center of controversy in 2021 due to her affair with actor Masahiro Higashide (36). The two met while working on the Asako movie (2017). Ai Fukuhara (35), who ranked third, was reported to have had an affair in March 2021 while she was a table tennis player.