Concerns Rise Over Naniwa Danshi’s Shunsuke Michieda Looking Gaunt Amid Overwork Fears

Concerns raised at the early morning event

A ‘oo skinny alert has been issued—

Fans are buzzing after seeing recent images of Naniwa Danshi’s Shunsuke Michieda (23).

Currently, Michieda has been working at full capacity, promoting his first solo starring film You, the Song You Left Behind through TV appearances and stage greetings. However, despite his naturally slender build, his extremely thin appearance has sparked concern on social media, with comments such as:

“The neck area is too thin”

“He looks gaunt”

On March 11, around 3,500 fans gathered at an event in front of Osaka Station. As it was his first large-scale homecoming event in his hometown Osaka, he greeted fans with a smile—but even then, comments like this emerged from the audience:

“He’s still young, but the lines around his mouth when he smiles were noticeable, which made me worried.”

And the most striking moment came on March 18 at the “Super Nintendo World 5th Anniversary Ceremony” held at Universal Studios Japan.

Despite the ‘brutal schedule’ starting at 7 a.m., the members were all smiles!! Leader Kazuya Ohashi (28) shared a sweet photo with Yoshi, which caused a big buzz on social media.

However, in contrast, Michieda’s smile seemed somewhat restrained. As voices of concern like “Is he at max exhaustion?” and “He’s pushing himself too hard” circulated, he left Universal Studios Japan after just 15 minutes.

And less than a week later, he returned to Osaka again for a concert at the Osaka Shochikuza Theater. Being an idol is tough.

Not only in Osaka but also in Korea

Michieda, the 180 cm national treasure-level handsome guy, ranked No. 1 in the “ViVi National Treasure-Level Handsome Ranking” in the first half of 2022, and then reclaimed the top spot in the first half of 2025, earning a place in the hall of fame—an overwhelming visual presence. Precisely because his looks are so perfect, even the slightest change stands out.

An entertainment reporter from a sports newspaper also expressed concern.

“Because of the film’s promotion, he’s appearing on variety shows and live broadcasts—no exaggeration, it’s a schedule packed down to the minute. It’s great that he’s in demand, but he literally has no time to rest.”

The film, a much-talked-about work, depicts a 10-year love story between a young man who writes poetry and a girl who struggles with reading and writing but has musical talent. While reviews have been positive, it has been somewhat struggling at the box office, debuting at No. 6 in its first week. It’s understandable that promotion is being pushed hard, but…

“On March 31, there will also be a nationwide live-streamed ‘thank-you stage greeting.’ The promotion is still ongoing,” the same reporter said.

This suggests that Michieda’s full-throttle schedule is unlikely to stop anytime soon. Starting in April, the film is set for release in South Korea, and he will travel there for further promotion. His popularity there has even sparked a social phenomenon dubbed the “Michigetta Shunsuke whirlwind,” and he himself is said to be highly motivated.

Still—the fans’ true feelings are one: “We’re happy about his success, but we want him to eat properly and rest first.” Even if it’s the fate of being in demand, fans likely don’t want him to push himself to the point where it becomes worrying to watch.