Japan’s tax office just dropped a big list: 1,818 famous people in showbiz owe more money for lessons they took. We’re talking actors, singers, and TV stars who got special training to do their jobs better. The office made the list public to show it’s fair play—no one gets a free pass.
This comes after years of checks on how celebs report their cash from gigs and side work. The government says these extra lessons count as work costs, but not all of them get a tax break. Now, with names out there, fans and friends are chatting non-stop on social media.
Take singer Aimer—she’s on the list for vocal training. Her fans jumped in quick: “Hard work pays off, but taxes sting!” One post got thousands of likes. Comedian Bananaman’s Setaro Ito is there too, for comedy classes. His reply? A funny tweet: “Guess my jokes didn’t save me from this bill.” People loved it—laughs mixed with eye rolls.
Not everyone is smiling. Some stars like actress Nana Eikura feel bad about the spotlight. “I just want to focus on my roles,” she shared in a short note. Others, like idol group Nogizaka46 members, see fans defending them hard. “They earn it fair—leave them alone!” went viral.
Why go public? The tax folks say it’s to stop secrets and build trust. But many wonder if it’s too much. “Names out like this? Feels mean,” one user wrote on X. The list has big names from NHK shows to pop charts—think Hikaru Utada for music lessons and athletes-turned-actors for fitness training.
This hits at a time when Japan’s watching every yen. With costs up for food and homes, even stars aren’t safe from money talks. Experts say it could push more folks to check their own taxes right.
As buzz grows, will more celebs share their side? Or will it fade like yesterday’s hit song? One thing’s sure—SNS won’t let it go quiet anytime soon.
Story based on reports from Mainichi Shimbun and online reactions.