[Bunshun][Exclusive 140-Minute Confession] ME:I's Kato Kokoro reveals the truth behind her departure for the first time!
"Until the day my contract ended, I always wanted to come back.
I didn't want to make the fans worry, and I wanted to show them that I was healthy and active."
Holding back tears as she squeezes out her words is former ME:I member COCORO-Kokoro Kato (25).
ME:I was formed in December 2023, when 11 members were selected through a popular audition program. The following year, their debut song Click became a huge hit, and they even appeared on NHK's KÅhaku Uta Gassen.
ME:I was an 11-member girls group.
The members' agency is LAPONE GIRLS (hereafter, Lapone), a company jointly established by Yoshimoto Kogyo and the major Korean entertainment firm CJ ENM, which also co-hosted the audition.
Now ME:I is facing a major crisis. Kato had been on hiatus since March 2025 due to "poor health," and at the end of December that year, her contract was terminated. In addition, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA left the group at the same time, making a total of four members who departed.
On the final day of her time in the group-New Year's Eve-Kato released a statement through the agency. It was filled with unbearable frustration.
After the new year, she opened an Instagram account under her real name, Kokoro Kato, and began again. When Weekly Bunshun requested an interview, she agreed and spoke for 140 minutes.
With scandals such as sexual abuse at the former Johnny's office and the power-harassment suicide at the Takarazuka Revue, public scrutiny has been growing over human-rights abuses rooted in the overwhelming power imbalance between agencies and talent. What Kato described was a portrait of the entertainment industry that has not changed.
Managers rummaging through the trash
Kato loved singing and dancing from a young age. She appeared in the musical Annie in elementary school and debuted at 18 in a Korean girl group.
In 2024, when ME:I officially became part of Lapone, the members began living in a company dorm in Tokyo and were placed under complete agency control. In addition to surprise weigh-ins, about five managers would check their refrigerators and even rummage through their trash cans.
On the other hand, when other members had issues with their living habits, the agency would sometimes make Kato, instead of the managers, be the one to scold them. As the oldest in the group, she ended up acting like middle management between the agency and the members.
At the start of the interview she spoke bravely and even smiled at times, but when she began talking about the members, her voice choked.
Gradually, multiple managers began harshly criticizing her.
The unreasonable scolding continued, and she began to suffer mentally because of her relationship with the managers. At the end of February last year, she was lectured for two hours for defending a member who had been reprimanded by the agency. Not long after that, she was forced into hiatus, triggered by something trivial.
The shocking "diagnosis" given to Kato
March 2, 2025. Since her debut, she had hardly had any days off. There were times when she would work late into the night, get no sleep, and then fly to Korea early in the morning to shoot a music video.
That night, she was being pressured to fill out a large number of questionnaires required before appearing on shows. The manager was pushing her harshly to hurry.
Thinking that, she left the group LINE chat with the managers and members.
The agency took her leaving the group chat seriously, calling it a sign of mental instability and urging her to see a doctor.
She visited two mental clinics. At Clinic X she had a 30-minute consultation; at Clinic Y she had two 15-minute consultations and a psychological test. After seeing Clinic Y, she messaged her manager:
But-
On March 24, in a meeting that included Lapone's president, the manager told Kato a shocking "diagnosis."
"Once they said it was a done deal, I had no choice but to obey"
Four days later, on March 28, the chief manager emailed her mother saying that a 'hiatus announcement' would be released the next day. Up until that point, Kato herself had received no explanation of what would be announced. When her mother asked to see it, the manager replied.
The next day, Lapone released a statement against Kato's wishes.
SNS was flooded with posts like "COCORO is mentally ill."
She returned to her family home in Nagoya and, once a week, went to a hospital in Tokyo for magnetic brain stimulation, counseling, and mental training.
Even during her hiatus, heartless messages from managers continued. On April 8, she was suddenly told to decide within six hours whether she would participate in merchandise planned for October. There was no concern for her being on leave, and they added, "If we don't hear back, we'll assume you're not participating." She immediately said she wanted to take part, but her merchandise was never sold.
And then-
On April 16, Kato heard something she could hardly believe.
Because Kato had doubts about the diagnoses from the two clinics, she went to a local neurology clinic to seek a second opinion. When she told the doctor that she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the response she received was blunt:
The doctor explained that it was not something that could be diagnosed in such a short time.
Dr. Matsuzaki, mentioned earlier, points out:
Kato then revisited Clinic Y. The doctor there appeared confused and said, "We never stated any specific diagnosis," and also confirmed that they had never told the company that Kato was unable to continue working.
In other words, the diagnosis of "borderline personality disorder" and Lapone's claim that "a doctor determined that rest was necessary" were outright lies.
Later, Kato requested disclosure of her medical records from Clinics X and Y and, through her attorney, formally asked whether any definitive diagnosis had actually been made. The clinics' responses contained decisive proof that Lapone had conveyed a false diagnosis to her.
The "secret document" the manager gave to the doctor
Why did Lapone fabricate the diagnosis of "borderline personality disorder"?
In fact, before Kato was examined, a manager had given a secret document to the doctor at Clinic X.
It included the note:
Under the heading "Abnormal behaviors during her time with the agency," it listed claims such as:
"Goes into hysterics and runs outside"
"Cries and screams"
"Says she will die while holding a kitchen knife"
Kato says, "Every single one of those is false."
Multiple people close to her also testified that while she is emotional and easily moved to tears, she has never engaged in impulsive behavior that disrupted group activities, and they all said they could not believe she had been on leave for mental illness.
Her lawyer, Kuniyoshi Kawanishi, adds:
In the end, Kato returned to dorm life in July of last year. But what awaited her there was a "cruel notice."
From July 2025, she resumed living in the dorms and began preparing to return. She had two days off per week. In the mornings she studied Chinese and English; in the afternoons she took dance lessons and vocal training. She never missed a single session. Yet even after returning to Tokyo, she was left in limbo with no clear future.
During her hiatus, other members also began dropping out due to mental exhaustion.
A record-company employee revealed:
That same chief manager had once entered Kato's room without knocking during her hiatus and said:
In August, she was told she would return when the next single was released. One manager even told her, "I'll definitely bring you back."
"My feelings were trampled again and again"
On September 30, nothing had changed. That day she took Chinese lessons from 11 a.m. and a hip-hop dance lesson from 1 p.m. Afterward, a sudden meeting was scheduled regarding her contract renewal, which was set to expire at the end of 2025.
At 3 p.m., she entered Lapone's meeting room. The people waiting for her were strangers: employees from parent company CJ in Korea and an interpreter, and from Lapone only their legal advisor.
There, a CJ employee told her in Korean that her contract would not be renewed next year, repeating only:
Kato, fluent in Korean, asked them to explain properly instead of saying "various," but Lapone only replied vaguely.
After her re-examination at Clinic Y, Kato even protested via LINE.
If she did not return, the public would simply believe she had "quit because of illness," further cementing the false narrative Lapone had spread. She begged to return even temporarily before her contract ended, but was refused.
Even her New Year's Eve departure comment, she says, was only made possible after her lawyer pressed Lapone.
What does Lapone say?
Attorney Kyosuke Nishiwaki, a former legal director at TV Asahi, explains:
When Lapone was asked about managerial abuse, the false diagnosis, and the announcement made without consent, they replied:
Kato is still trying to look forward.
When will an entertainment industry that steals dreams and dignity finally change?
COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA are ending activities with ME:I...
(https://laponegirls.jp/news/detail/57?lang=en) We would like to thank you for your continued support and consideration for the activities of LAPONE GIRLS Co., Ltd. and our artists.
We would like to inform you that COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA, who are currently affiliated with our company, will have their exclusive management contracts with us expire on December 31, 2025, and will cease activities as ME:I.
We sincerely apologize to all our fans, who have always shown their warm support, for this sudden announcement. We appreciate your understanding.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA for their hard work as members of ME:I.
We sincerely hope that you will continue to support us in the future.
Dear Suzu,
On this special day, we want to take a moment to tell you how much you mean to us. You are not just someone we admire on stageāyou are a light that shines in our everyday lives. Your smile feels like a warm hug, your laughter makes the world softer, and your presence reminds us that kindness and sincerity are the most beautiful forms of strength.
Every time you look at the audience, it feels like you are speaking directly to our hearts. You remind us that even small gestures can carry endless meaning. You teach us to be brave, to stay true to ourselves, and to find joy in the little things.
Suzu, thank you for being yourself. Thank you for showing us that love is not about perfection, but about honesty and connection. We want you to know that YOU:ME will always be hereācheering for you, supporting you, and reminding you that you are never alone.
This day belongs to you, but our love for you will last far beyond today. You are our star, our inspiration, and our comfort. We hope you feel the endless support and gratitude that surrounds you, not just on SuZu Day, but every single day.
With love,
YOU:ME šøš
Dear ME:I,
Two years may sound like a short time, but for us, it has been a journey filled with countless emotions, unforgettable bonds, and a love that grows stronger every single day. You are not just a group we admireāyou are family.
Youāve given us comfort when we needed it, joy when we were down, and hope when we felt lost. Every moment with you reminds us that connection is real, even across distances. Youāve shown us that sincerity and unity can create something powerful, something that lasts forever.
On this anniversary, we want to say thank you. Thank you for being here, for sharing yourselves with us, and for reminding us that love is not measured in years but in the memories we carry. Two years are just the beginningāwe believe in a future filled with more laughter, more strength, and more moments that will stay in our hearts forever.
YOU:ME will continue to stand by you, cheering louder, loving deeper, and supporting endlessly. This anniversary is not just about looking backāitās about looking forward, together.
With endless gratitude and love,
YOU:ME šāØ
ILLIT
[Bunshun][Exclusive 140-Minute Confession] ME:I's Kato Kokoro reveals the truth behind her departure for the first time!
"Until the day my contract ended, I always wanted to come back.
I didn't want to make the fans worry, and I wanted to show them that I was healthy and active."
Holding back tears as she squeezes out her words is former ME:I member COCORO-Kokoro Kato (25).
ME:I was formed in December 2023, when 11 members were selected through a popular audition program. The following year, their debut song Click became a huge hit, and they even appeared on NHK's KÅhaku Uta Gassen.
ME:I was an 11-member girls group.
The members' agency is LAPONE GIRLS (hereafter, Lapone), a company jointly established by Yoshimoto Kogyo and the major Korean entertainment firm CJ ENM, which also co-hosted the audition.
Now ME:I is facing a major crisis. Kato had been on hiatus since March 2025 due to "poor health," and at the end of December that year, her contract was terminated. In addition, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA left the group at the same time, making a total of four members who departed.
On the final day of her time in the group-New Year's Eve-Kato released a statement through the agency. It was filled with unbearable frustration.
After the new year, she opened an Instagram account under her real name, Kokoro Kato, and began again. When Weekly Bunshun requested an interview, she agreed and spoke for 140 minutes.
With scandals such as sexual abuse at the former Johnny's office and the power-harassment suicide at the Takarazuka Revue, public scrutiny has been growing over human-rights abuses rooted in the overwhelming power imbalance between agencies and talent. What Kato described was a portrait of the entertainment industry that has not changed.
Managers rummaging through the trash
Kato loved singing and dancing from a young age. She appeared in the musical Annie in elementary school and debuted at 18 in a Korean girl group.
In 2024, when ME:I officially became part of Lapone, the members began living in a company dorm in Tokyo and were placed under complete agency control. In addition to surprise weigh-ins, about five managers would check their refrigerators and even rummage through their trash cans.
On the other hand, when other members had issues with their living habits, the agency would sometimes make Kato, instead of the managers, be the one to scold them. As the oldest in the group, she ended up acting like middle management between the agency and the members.
At the start of the interview she spoke bravely and even smiled at times, but when she began talking about the members, her voice choked.
Gradually, multiple managers began harshly criticizing her.
The unreasonable scolding continued, and she began to suffer mentally because of her relationship with the managers. At the end of February last year, she was lectured for two hours for defending a member who had been reprimanded by the agency. Not long after that, she was forced into hiatus, triggered by something trivial.
The shocking "diagnosis" given to Kato
March 2, 2025. Since her debut, she had hardly had any days off. There were times when she would work late into the night, get no sleep, and then fly to Korea early in the morning to shoot a music video.
That night, she was being pressured to fill out a large number of questionnaires required before appearing on shows. The manager was pushing her harshly to hurry.
Thinking that, she left the group LINE chat with the managers and members.
The agency took her leaving the group chat seriously, calling it a sign of mental instability and urging her to see a doctor.
She visited two mental clinics. At Clinic X she had a 30-minute consultation; at Clinic Y she had two 15-minute consultations and a psychological test. After seeing Clinic Y, she messaged her manager:
But-
On March 24, in a meeting that included Lapone's president, the manager told Kato a shocking "diagnosis."
"Once they said it was a done deal, I had no choice but to obey"
Four days later, on March 28, the chief manager emailed her mother saying that a 'hiatus announcement' would be released the next day. Up until that point, Kato herself had received no explanation of what would be announced. When her mother asked to see it, the manager replied.
The next day, Lapone released a statement against Kato's wishes.
SNS was flooded with posts like "COCORO is mentally ill."
She returned to her family home in Nagoya and, once a week, went to a hospital in Tokyo for magnetic brain stimulation, counseling, and mental training.
Even during her hiatus, heartless messages from managers continued. On April 8, she was suddenly told to decide within six hours whether she would participate in merchandise planned for October. There was no concern for her being on leave, and they added, "If we don't hear back, we'll assume you're not participating." She immediately said she wanted to take part, but her merchandise was never sold.
And then-
On April 16, Kato heard something she could hardly believe.
Because Kato had doubts about the diagnoses from the two clinics, she went to a local neurology clinic to seek a second opinion. When she told the doctor that she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the response she received was blunt:
The doctor explained that it was not something that could be diagnosed in such a short time.
Dr. Matsuzaki, mentioned earlier, points out:
Kato then revisited Clinic Y. The doctor there appeared confused and said, "We never stated any specific diagnosis," and also confirmed that they had never told the company that Kato was unable to continue working.
In other words, the diagnosis of "borderline personality disorder" and Lapone's claim that "a doctor determined that rest was necessary" were outright lies.
Later, Kato requested disclosure of her medical records from Clinics X and Y and, through her attorney, formally asked whether any definitive diagnosis had actually been made. The clinics' responses contained decisive proof that Lapone had conveyed a false diagnosis to her.
The "secret document" the manager gave to the doctor
Why did Lapone fabricate the diagnosis of "borderline personality disorder"?
In fact, before Kato was examined, a manager had given a secret document to the doctor at Clinic X.
It included the note:
Under the heading "Abnormal behaviors during her time with the agency," it listed claims such as:
"Goes into hysterics and runs outside"
"Cries and screams"
"Says she will die while holding a kitchen knife"
Kato says, "Every single one of those is false."
Multiple people close to her also testified that while she is emotional and easily moved to tears, she has never engaged in impulsive behavior that disrupted group activities, and they all said they could not believe she had been on leave for mental illness.
Her lawyer, Kuniyoshi Kawanishi, adds:
In the end, Kato returned to dorm life in July of last year. But what awaited her there was a "cruel notice."
From July 2025, she resumed living in the dorms and began preparing to return. She had two days off per week. In the mornings she studied Chinese and English; in the afternoons she took dance lessons and vocal training. She never missed a single session. Yet even after returning to Tokyo, she was left in limbo with no clear future.
During her hiatus, other members also began dropping out due to mental exhaustion.
A record-company employee revealed:
That same chief manager had once entered Kato's room without knocking during her hiatus and said:
In August, she was told she would return when the next single was released. One manager even told her, "I'll definitely bring you back."
"My feelings were trampled again and again"
On September 30, nothing had changed. That day she took Chinese lessons from 11 a.m. and a hip-hop dance lesson from 1 p.m. Afterward, a sudden meeting was scheduled regarding her contract renewal, which was set to expire at the end of 2025.
At 3 p.m., she entered Lapone's meeting room. The people waiting for her were strangers: employees from parent company CJ in Korea and an interpreter, and from Lapone only their legal advisor.
There, a CJ employee told her in Korean that her contract would not be renewed next year, repeating only:
Kato, fluent in Korean, asked them to explain properly instead of saying "various," but Lapone only replied vaguely.
After her re-examination at Clinic Y, Kato even protested via LINE.
If she did not return, the public would simply believe she had "quit because of illness," further cementing the false narrative Lapone had spread. She begged to return even temporarily before her contract ended, but was refused.
Even her New Year's Eve departure comment, she says, was only made possible after her lawyer pressed Lapone.
What does Lapone say?
Attorney Kyosuke Nishiwaki, a former legal director at TV Asahi, explains:
When Lapone was asked about managerial abuse, the false diagnosis, and the announcement made without consent, they replied:
Kato is still trying to look forward.
When will an entertainment industry that steals dreams and dignity finally change?
5 months ago | [YT] | 2
View 12 replies
ILLIT
From RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA to everyone
(https://me-i.jp/news/detail/1046?lang=en)
6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 2
View 1 reply
ILLIT
COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA are ending activities with ME:I...
(https://laponegirls.jp/news/detail/57?lang=en)
We would like to thank you for your continued support and consideration for the activities of LAPONE GIRLS Co., Ltd. and our artists.
We would like to inform you that COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA, who are currently affiliated with our company, will have their exclusive management contracts with us expire on December 31, 2025, and will cease activities as ME:I.
We sincerely apologize to all our fans, who have always shown their warm support, for this sudden announcement. We appreciate your understanding.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA for their hard work as members of ME:I.
We sincerely hope that you will continue to support us in the future.
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
ILLIT
Dear Suzu,
On this special day, we want to take a moment to tell you how much you mean to us. You are not just someone we admire on stageāyou are a light that shines in our everyday lives. Your smile feels like a warm hug, your laughter makes the world softer, and your presence reminds us that kindness and sincerity are the most beautiful forms of strength.
Every time you look at the audience, it feels like you are speaking directly to our hearts. You remind us that even small gestures can carry endless meaning. You teach us to be brave, to stay true to ourselves, and to find joy in the little things.
Suzu, thank you for being yourself. Thank you for showing us that love is not about perfection, but about honesty and connection. We want you to know that YOU:ME will always be hereācheering for you, supporting you, and reminding you that you are never alone.
This day belongs to you, but our love for you will last far beyond today. You are our star, our inspiration, and our comfort. We hope you feel the endless support and gratitude that surrounds you, not just on SuZu Day, but every single day.
With love,
YOU:ME šøš
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 8 replies
ILLIT
Dear ME:I,
Two years may sound like a short time, but for us, it has been a journey filled with countless emotions, unforgettable bonds, and a love that grows stronger every single day. You are not just a group we admireāyou are family.
Youāve given us comfort when we needed it, joy when we were down, and hope when we felt lost. Every moment with you reminds us that connection is real, even across distances. Youāve shown us that sincerity and unity can create something powerful, something that lasts forever.
On this anniversary, we want to say thank you. Thank you for being here, for sharing yourselves with us, and for reminding us that love is not measured in years but in the memories we carry. Two years are just the beginningāwe believe in a future filled with more laughter, more strength, and more moments that will stay in our hearts forever.
YOU:ME will continue to stand by you, cheering louder, loving deeper, and supporting endlessly. This anniversary is not just about looking backāitās about looking forward, together.
With endless gratitude and love,
YOU:ME šāØ
6 months ago | [YT] | 2
View 6 replies
ILLIT
First Post ā*: .ļ½”. o(ā§ā½ā¦)o .ļ½”.:*ā
I've been working on it since April and it's finally finished! Check it outšā£ļøĀ”
10 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1
View 5 replies