TOKYO (TR) – A major host club group has pushed back against allegations of extreme violence following the sudden death and suspected suicide of 25-year-old adult video (AV) star Hana Kuraki, whose passing has sparked a storm of abuse accusations against a top-ranking male host, reports Zakzak (Oct. 11).
On October 11, ClubLeo, an establishment operating under the prominent L’s collection host group, announced that 31-year-old host Shota Taira — widely reported to be Kuraki’s boyfriend — resigned from the club on September 30.
Without mentioning Kuraki by name, the club’s statement claimed that social media posts accusing Taira and the establishment of abuse contained “falsehoods.” The parent company concurrently announced it would refuse all media inquiries regarding the matter, citing the protection of “customer privacy.”
Domestic violence
The controversy erupted after Kuraki’s management agency, T-Powers, confirmed her death on September 14. International outlets, including the New York Post and The Sun, have reported the death as a suspected suicide.
Immediately following the news, friends and industry insiders took to social media to allege the AV actress was the victim of severe domestic violence.
Former agency colleague and influencer Marin Hinata, 32, made shocking claims online, detailing systematic abuse.
“She was beaten and had to cancel shoots multiple times. She was beaten the day before her anniversary event and had to postpone. She even told me not to tell anyone that she had been run over by a car,” Hinata wrote. “Do you know how hard it is to make money? I think she worked so hard because she loved him. I will never forgive this.”
“Injuries”
Popular host and former BreakingDown martial arts fighter Sakito revealed he rushed to Kuraki’s apartment after being contacted by the friend who first discovered her body. According to Sakito, he phoned Taira — who was the registered leaseholder of the apartment — to inform him of the tragedy. However, Taira allegedly delayed his arrival by two hours, claiming he had a “meeting,” leaving Sakito to deal with detectives at the scene.
Sakito further claimed that after he posted a message condemning “people who control others with violence,” Taira phoned him late at night demanding a retraction. Sakito noted that by June, Kuraki had already consulted him about her abusive relationship, and things had deteriorated to the point where the couple could only communicate through lawyers.
Evidence of Kuraki’s physical suffering had surfaced months prior to her death. In June, she announced a temporary hiatus, noting she was recovering from undisclosed “injuries.” Photos from a fan event in late June clearly showed dark bruises on her wrists and knees.
“Headaches everyday”
Her cryptic social media posts also hinted at a dark personal life. In May, she wrote, “I wish I could go back to the days before I knew you. I would have been happier not knowing you.” Her final post on September 5 read simply, “I’ve had headaches every day lately… I wonder why.”
Taira, an Okinawa native, is a former fashion model and ex-member of the boyband X4. He transitioned into the host club industry in 2018, aggressively marketing his past as a major label artist to become a No. 1 host.
Kuraki’s talent agency, T-Powers, has issued a statement acknowledging the rumors surrounding her relationship with a “specific individual.”
“Thinking of how deeply hurt and suffering she was in life breaks our hearts, and we feel strong anger toward this series of actions,” the agency stated, adding that they are carefully investigating the facts and will work with relevant authorities to take appropriate action.