Are idol hunters targeting IZ*ONE?

An article from Tokyo Sports for their newspaper publication and also in Yahoo! News is saying that the idol hunters are now aiming their target towards global girl group, IZ*ONE.

In fact, some have been seen at IZ*ONE events in Japan.

The term “Idol Hunter” has shot in the forefront of Japanese media recently after the assault on NGT48 member Yamaguchi Maho (23).

Idol Hunters are considered as “extreme fans” who have targeted idols by trying to live in the same apartment as members and try to form friendships and sexual encounters with them. This includes stalking members.

Some going as far as getting the addresses of an idol and selling the address information online and also being involved in purchasing tickets for events for high resell to make profits and also selling handshake tickets online.

Rumors have circulated online that the men who assaulted Yamaguchi Maho were idol hunters and supposedly rented an apartment where NGT48 members were staying at.

One of the accused have posted a video calling Niigata Police as weak.

There have been reports of disturbing movement among the Idol Hunters and while NGT48 management has taken the step of banning members to their events, the fact that those who assaulted Yamaguchi were released by police. Some rumors that have not been confirmed are saying that these Idol Hunters have a family relationship with powerful political and music industry professionals and thus they have not been arrested.

IZ*ONE will be releasing their debut single in Japan on February 6th and it said that idol hunters are trying to get access to any events where they can meet the members. Which includes the group’s High Touch events.

The article goes on to say that these idol hunters may increase anti-Japanese tension in South Korea if anything bad happens to the group members.

Whether or not the article is factual or not, it’s important to always to be cautious after what has happened to NGT48. We can only hope that AKS and OFF THE RECORD are doing whatever is necessary to protect the members from any trouble especially from these idol hunters.

On Twitter, people are commenting on SNS of their thoughts on the matter:

まじどこのアイドルハンターか知らんけどIZONEに手を出したらWIZONEが許さんからな

— かなた@카나타 (@kanatawizone) January 26, 2019

#IZONE #アイドルハンター
こんな話は嘘でしょ…まるで映画ホラーでこんなことがリアルであるなんて思えないし、思いたくない、こんな話あったとしたら、純粋な男性ファンもライブとか行きにくくなると思う、もやはNGTだけに問題じゃないです😓運営さん再発防止徹底せんと pic.twitter.com/dJNEsP9Czj

— sa (@FjRurrvVTUP4RZf) January 26, 2019

やっぱりな、少女達がまた危険に晒される。秋元康どうするの #IZONE #WIZONE #AKS #HKT #山口真帆 #アイドルハンター pic.twitter.com/uwxUrSzpWo

— kokoro＊ (@Majokko556) January 26, 2019

なになに？アイドルハンターがIZONEを狙ってるって？記事にもなってるってことは結構大事になってきてるよ？
そろそろライブや握手会とかは警察が出動しないといけなくなるね！
まぁ、そんなことよりさっさとアイドルハンターとやらを檻にぶち込めばいいんだよ！

— 💀🐲👁‍🗨Ryo💣☠️😈 (@Ryo_wsy) January 26, 2019

アイドルハンターまじ死ね。
次はIZ*ONEかよ。
宮脇咲良ちゃん守らなきゃ！
絶対守ってみせる！#AKB48 #HKT48 #宮脇咲良 #아이즈원 #IZONE #東京スポーツ pic.twitter.com/PShwVqlK7R

— 偽りの魔女★岡田奈々ちゃん★ファン〜初心者です〜 (@Natyan_love) January 26, 2019