
The agent for former "Morning Musume" female troupe member Ai Kago has cancelled her contract after the teenage star was caught smoking while under suspension for earlier misconduct. The Shukan Gendai weekly magazine's latest issue, which hit the stands on Monday, reported that 19-year-old Kago was caught smoking during a trip. By law, anyone under 20 is banned from smoking in Japan. Another weekly magazine reported Kago was smoking in February last year and she was consequently suspended from entertainment work. "We will beef up education for minor entertainers," an official from her agency said.
More details on just about every Japan blog and her Wiki entry.