The following article discusses suicide and self-harm. It also contains Oshi no Ko Episode 6 spoilers, "Egosurfing."
The most recent episode of Oshi no Ko is said to be inspired by Hana Kimura's real-life suicide.
According to Anime Senpai, the events of Akane Kurokawa in Oshi no No episode 6, "Egosurfing," are similar to the suicide of Hana Kimura, a Japanese professional wrestler who committed suicide after appearing on a reality TV show. The episode in question followed Akane as she faced extreme online harassment following a misunderstanding in an episode of the fictitious reality show "LoveNow." Her attempted suicide in the episode's conclusion tragically mirrors the death of the real-life Kimura, who committed suicide after being subjected to constant internet harassment.
The program investigated the pressures of appearing on a reality television show, drawing the boundary between fact and fiction and demonstrating how tough it can be to stand apart. Akane was determined to make her mark on the program and accidently cut the face of a more popular cast member named Yuki in the process. The character spent the episode being pushed to suicide after a deluge of insults and death threats were anonymously delivered to her via the internet by the show's viewers.
The True Story of Hana Kimura's Death
Kimura wrestled for renowned promotions including as World Wonder Ring Stardom, Wrestle-1, and Ring of Honor before making an appearance on the Fuji TV and Netflix reality show Terrace House. Because of her Indonesian origin and a disagreement with another cast member, viewers rapidly turned against Kimura, harassing her online with racist and hostile bullying. This strain eventually drove her to commit herself at the age of 22. Her death has remained a prominent talking point in the context of cyberbullying, internet abuse, and reality television ever since.
This is not the first time Oshi no Ko has used real-life tragedies to fuel its plots. The series also includes a character named Kana Arima, who is modeled after Japanese child star Mana Ashida, an actor whose career waned as she grew older. The anime and its source material, both created by Aka Akasaka, explore the dark and murky world of Japanese entertainment, delving into the dark side of fame, idol culture, cyberbullying, and much more.
The series is available to watch on HIDIVE. You can find out when Oshi no Ko Episode 7 will be released here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, get help from the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.
Source: Anime Senpai, Twitter [1] [2]
