Man Spends His Grandfather’s Inheritance to Support Idol as She Retires
Being an idol fan can be a very important part of someone’s life, but it can also bring some difficult moments. That is what happened to Japanese comedian Sota Maeda, from the comedy duo Karatachi, after his favorite idol, Yui Takemoto, announced that she would leave the idol group Sakurazaka46.
Man Spends His Grandfather’s Inheritance to Support Idol as She Retires
Maeda is known for being a huge idol fan and ended up spending around 10 million yen from the inheritance left by his grandfather over 10 years. He spent the money on idol merchandise and handshake events. The 10 million yen was reduced to just 260,000 yen.
Takemoto announced her departure from the group on February 5, 2026. Maeda was on a bullet train returning from Osaka to Tokyo when he started receiving several messages on social media saying things like, “Yui-chan…” and “Please stay alive.”
After discovering the reason, he was completely devastated.
“I couldn’t think about anything. My mind went completely blank.”
For Maeda, Takemoto was not just an idol he admired. He described her as someone as important to him as his mother and his comedy partner, as well as a source of emotional support and even a part of his work.
The problem happened at a particularly important moment in his career. Karatachi was approaching its 15th anniversary and was entering its final possible year in M-1, one of Japan’s biggest comedy competitions.
Maeda planned to continue using jokes related to his favorite idol, but the graduation announcement changed his plans. During a television appearance, Takemoto herself even apologized for announcing her departure from the group at that time.
Did He Manage to Give Up “Oshikatsu”?
Despite the initial shock, Maeda ultimately did not completely give up his oshikatsu. This happened because Takemoto later announced that she would continue her career with a new agency.
The comedian said that perhaps marriage or the birth of a child could represent a point where he would finally end his relationship as a fan.
According to him, there is a curious contradiction in his passion:
“In the end, idols are what make me suffer, and idols are also what make me happy.” For now, he continues to support Sakurazaka46 as a fan of the entire group.
It is worth mentioning that Yui Takemoto did not leave the entertainment industry. She continues working in the industry, but she is no longer a member of the idol group.
Oshikatsu is a Japanese term used to describe the activities fans do to support their idol or favorite person.