Yaken Moten Comment Sparks Outrage—Female Entrepreneur Opens Up on Bankruptcy and Horie Clash

Why she made the “That’s why you’re not popular” comment

“To move people’s hearts, you have to go all in. I think the reaction came because I faced it as my true self, not as entertainment.”

These words come from former female entrepreneur Airi Hirakawa (32). In the currently released issue of FRIDAY, she surprises everyone with her first-ever gravure photoshoot. Hirakawa has lived a turbulent life, including several public controversies. We spoke with her about her past struggles and her new hopes.

Her fate was dramatically changed by the documentary program Nontitle, which brought together men and women aiming to launch a new business. During discussions, Hirakawa made a remark to a male participant that caused a huge online backlash:

“That’s why you’re not popular.”

The phrase spread across the internet, and combined with her pink hair at the time and a visible vein on her forehead, she even earned the nickname “Blue Vein Pink.”

When asked why she made such a statement, Hirakawa explained:

“It was in the context of talking about how my husband had an affair with a company staff member. I thought the conversation would continue positively, like, ‘I’ve had tough experiences, but I hope I can move forward in a new way.’ Instead, it went in a completely different direction. I felt that a human dialogue was impossible, and an emotional remark just slipped out.”

Another moment that stirred the internet was her appearance on REAL VALUE, featuring Takafumi Horie, Yuta Misaki, and Yuji Mizoguchi. The program involved proposing new business ideas, and Hirakawa’s tearful reaction to tough questioning from senior entrepreneurs became a major topic of discussion.

“I regret not being fully prepared for the business plan. It may sound like an excuse, but I had to present with limited time. Yet if I hadn’t decided to appear at that timing, I might never have gotten another chance. So I don’t regret participating.

As for REAL VALUE, I never expected the clips to be watched so much! I’m actually working in sales now, and thanks to REAL VALUE, I often get appointments. Many people probably think I’m a crazy person from the videos, but they often tell me, ‘Oh, you’re actually a normal person when we meet!’ (laughs)”

Not only did she gain critics, but fans as well, and her presence suddenly became widely known.

However—

Sexual harassment and power harassment from clients and colleagues

Last year, it was revealed that she had accumulated a large amount of debt, and the companion casting company she led as CEO went bankrupt. Social media erupted once again.

“Giving birth, divorce, raising a child alone, the COVID-19 pandemic, a traffic accident, cervical cancer so many hardships led to bankruptcy. Especially after giving birth, it felt like my brain cells had died, and even just processing invoices became difficult.”

What Hirakawa experienced was the so-called mom brain. This is a phenomenon in which memory, concentration, and thinking ability temporarily decline after childbirth, and Hirakawa also fell into a state where “I couldn’t do things I used to be able to do.”

“At times like that, there were no reliable, trustworthy friends to lean on. The attacks from online critics were damaging, but even more significant was the experience of being betrayed in real life. And perhaps because I was a female CEO, I also suffered sexual harassment and power harassment from clients and people in the same industry. The accumulation of these experiences only deepened my distrust of people.”

Hirakawa truly experienced rock bottom. However, she has no intention of giving up hope.

“What matters most to me is what kind of example I can show my child. I want to show them that it’s possible to chase your dreams, so I’ve challenged myself on various programs until now.

Even now, while working in sales, I am preparing seriously to take on new challenges. I plan to announce a project soon that will help women earn some money and live independently.”

Hirakawa’s mother also gave her strong encouragement: “Don’t be swayed by what others say,” “Protect your daughter while living the life you want,” “Don’t worry about being ‘normal’ now.”

“Appearing on ‘Nontitle’ led to a huge backlash, but looking back, I think it gave me a chance to see myself objectively. Every time my company or family life went wrong, I wondered why it happened. But appearing on the program allowed me to objectively see the parts of myself that were flawed.”

In fact, even in the new project that is about to begin, she plans to be involved in a way different from being a business owner.

For the sake of women in society, and for her beloved daughter, Airi Hirakawa will carve a path through the wilderness.

The behind-the-scenes of the shoot is available on FRIDAY Subscription!

Hirakawa Erina, 32

Born in Aichi Prefecture, raised in Fukuoka. Started working as a model in Fukuoka in 2011, and in 2016 established an event companion modeling agency. Even after giving birth in 2022, she continued pursuing her dreams and appeared in the Kansai Collection. Her new project launching in 2026 is one to watch. For the latest updates, follow her on X (@erinahirakawa) and Instagram (@erina_hirakawa).