The record company ‘New Century Records’ introduced the upcoming album ‘Aki Yashiro Treasure Series Vol. 1: Don’t Forget Me,’ scheduled for release on the 21st, on their website, stating that it includes two full nude photos of Aki Yashiro taken with a Polaroid camera when she was around 24-25 years old. This promotion has sparked controversy. The album photo set to be released on the 21st is shown. Captured from the ‘New Century Records’ website.
A record company has faced criticism for promoting a memorial album by a deceased female singer, offering nude photos taken in her twenties as a bonus. The singer’s former management company warned they would take legal action.
According to Japanese media like Sponichi on the 15th, New Century Records spotlighted Aki Yashiro’s memorial album ‘Don’t Forget Me,’ slated for release on the 21st, on their website. They advertised that it included the first two nude photos of Aki Yashiro taken with a Polaroid camera when she was about 24-25 years old.
Yashiro passed away in December 2023 at the age of 73. New Century Records holds the rights to approximately 250 of Yashiro’s music tracks.
The inappropriate photos and captions included in the album introduction for the deceased singer have sparked online backlash.
There is growing concern that “female artists might work fearing the possibility of their dignity being trampled posthumously,” alongside an online petition being launched to block the album’s release.
Ono Makoto, president of Yashiro’s former company ‘Million Planning,’ released a statement the day before on the official site saying, “This is absolutely unforgivable.”
Ono emphasized, “We are preparing for all legal procedures regardless of criminal or civil matters,” concerning the album’s release.
The agency reportedly sent a notice through their lawyer to the record company’s address demanding the ‘stop using the photos,’ but they have not received a reply by the deadline yesterday.
Ono stated that they would raise “all issues including defamation of the deceased’s honor and distribution of obscene materials related to the ‘full nude photos.'”
Meanwhile, Yashiro was a leading enka singer in Japan. Since her debut in 1971, she released numerous hits including ‘Tearful Love,’ ‘Boat Song,’ and ‘Mother’s Love in the Rain.’
She not only showcased her talents in music but also demonstrated her skills as a painter, being selected for the Salon des Artistes Français in France for five consecutive years.