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Hana Kimura, a professional wrestler and star
of the latest season of the popular Netflix reality TV show,
died on Saturday, according to World Wonder Ring Stardom, the
professional wrestling organisation that represented Kimura.
Local media reported that a suicide note was found at her Tokyo
home, as she struggled with a wave of online harassment.
Her apparent suicide has shocked fans around the world and
raised immediate soul-searching over cyber-bullying.
"We have decided to suspend the production of Terrace House
Tokyo 2019-2020. We take this issue very seriously and would
like to continue to respond earnestly," the show said on its
Twitter account
https://twitter.com/TH6TV/
status/1265598821788078080?s=20.
Shortly before her death was reported, Kimura posted a photo of
herself with her cat on Instagram, with the caption, "I love
you. Live a happy, long life. I'm sorry."
The latest series is shot in a luxury house in Tokyo, and
Kimura's social media accounts had been bombarded with comments
portraying her as a villain.
Japanese government officials promised to step up
anti-cyber-bullying measures in response.
The unscripted reality show featuring three men and three women
living under the same roof has gained an international following
since being streamed on Netflix from 2015.
The series originated on Japan's Fuji TV in 2012 and is now
co-produced by Fuji and Netflix.
The show was once suspended in the wake of the coronavirus
pandemic in April, then resumed airing this month.
After Kimura's death, the season's upcoming episodes, which were
set to air this week and next, were again put on hold.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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