A 17-year-old former member of a Japanese girl band, or "idol group" as they are called in the country, was found to be in breach of a no-dating clause in her contract and ordered to pay $5,400 (¥650,000) by the Tokyo District Court.
"The clause prohibiting dating was necessary to get the support of male fans," said Judge Akitomo Kojima in his ruling, adding: "The revelation of an idol's relationship damages their image."
Contracts forbidding romantic engagements are standard for members of Japan's idol groups, but this is understood to be the first time a management company has successfully sued for damages.
The six-member group signed its contract in March 2013 and debuted in July of that year. After reports surfaced that the one member, who would have been 15 at the time, went to a hotel with two male fans, the group was disbanded in October 2013.