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| SKY-HI Faces Scrutiny After Weekly Report Questions Late-Night Meetings (Photo: ORICON) |
SKY-HI (Mitsuhiro Hidaka), the 39-year-old rapper, entrepreneur and head of major talent agency BMSG, has come under intense public scrutiny following a Josei Seven report that questioned his late-night interactions with a 17-year-old female idol.
The report, published ahead of the magazine’s 22 December issue, alleges that SKY-HI (real name Hidaka Mitsuhiro) met the underage idol multiple times at his Tokyo residence late at night, with exchanges reportedly taking place via private messaging platforms.
The situation has sparked widespread discussion online, particularly given SKY-HI’s long-standing reputation as a mentor figure for young artists.
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SKY-HI rose to fame as a rapper and vocalist in the hugely popular group AAA, before successfully reinventing himself as one of Japan’s most influential music producers.
In recent years, he has been widely praised for founding BMSG, the agency behind chart-topping acts such as BE:FIRST, as well as rising girl group HANA, both of whom are set to appear on NHK’s year-end music programme.
Because BMSG works closely with teenage trainees and young performers, the allegations have drawn particular attention within the entertainment industry, where safeguarding and professional boundaries are increasingly under the spotlight.
What the report claims
According to Josei Seven, the producer allegedly invited the 17-year-old idol to his home studio on several occasions, some of which reportedly took place after 11pm.
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Screenshots of messages obtained by the magazine show warm and encouraging language exchanged between the two, with acquaintances of the idol expressing concern about the timing of the meetings rather than any single interaction.
The report notes that the idol appeared enthusiastic and respectful towards SKY-HI, describing him as someone she deeply admired.
However, sources close to her reportedly worried about late-night travel and the broader implications of such meetings involving a minor.
Legal experts cited in the report pointed out that, in Tokyo, local youth protection guidelines place restrictions on late-night outings involving minors unless there is a clear and justified reason. While no criminal accusation has been made, the situation has raised questions about professional judgement and duty of care.
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This has been further complicated by the fact that SKY-HI oversees auditions and training programmes open to teenagers, making public trust a key issue for both him and BMSG.
SKY-HI’s response: “I lacked sufficient consideration”
In a written response to the magazine, SKY-HI acknowledged that the meetings took place at his home studio and admitted that his actions were “careless and open to misunderstanding”.
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He stated that, although he believed parental awareness had been given at the time, meeting a minor at such hours was “inappropriate by general societal standards” and that he is “deeply reflecting” on his conduct.
“I recognise that, regardless of intent, I failed to show sufficient consideration. I sincerely regret my lack of judgement,” he said.
BMSG has also issued an apology, emphasising that the company takes the situation seriously and will review internal guidelines to ensure clearer boundaries moving forward.
一部メディアによる報道についてhttps://t.co/bXcbe8qQVV
— BMSG Official (@BMSG_official) December 19, 2025
Reaction online has been mixed.
Some fans have urged caution, calling for facts to be separated from speculation, while others have expressed disappointment, saying industry leaders must be held to higher standards due to their influence over young artists.
Josei Seven post has indicated that a follow-up report will include additional comments from the idol’s family and further clarification from SKY-HI’s side.
For now, the situation serves as a sharp reminder of how closely behaviour is scrutinised when public figures are placed in positions of trust — particularly within youth-focused creative industries.