The Thrill

Idols are meant to be pretty, fun, cute, and flirtatious, so that fans can fantasize about being with them which drives sales of branded merchandize.

An Idol that has romantic or sexual pursuits is no longer perceived as available, in addition to it conflicting with fetishized virginity.

Basically, the Idol industry in Japan is the epitomy of a misogynistic sex-sells industry where the product is a fantasy relationship with a woman who is performing to make herself desirable. 

Many, many idols are extremely salty about this and will go to great lengths to mock and disparage the system, but they can’t do much to get it changed or go against it because their entire career will be destroyed if it is publicly discovered that they have or have had anything close to a relationship or sex.

And the companies absolutely do fire idols who do so, and destroy any potential they have as a career public figure for the rest of their lives. It’s horrifying.