We were made aware that there are some audio issues in this video and want to apologize for any inconvenience. Our team is now so small that we couldn’t check these issues thoroughly in advance. We will do better. If you enjoy watching stories like this from Asia and want to support our vision of bridging cultural and social gaps between Asia and the West, please subscribe to our channel and share this video. We appreciate you all so much!
Imagine how many little girls who are in a wheel chair look up to her. She’s creating dreams for so many kids who probably though they never could because of their disability.
100%! I have a disability and use a wheelchair and seeing someone like her would have meant the world to me as a child. There was no one in the media for me as a kid to look up to or who looked like me particularly in the music industry. I feel so inspired by her story!
I'm glad her company didn't just drop her! The choreography for the one dance was excellent for incorporating her chair. It was like she was the center of the flower! Now I will follow this group to cheer her on.
I absolutely do think she's amazing, but I can't support a group that supports Trump, a man that tried to overthrow my government. I was shocked to see their MAGA Trump video with them wearing Trump caps and rooting for him. So disappointed.
She is beautiful and an inspiration. I know someone who will be 49 years old this year. He was in an accident when he was 23 that left him quadriplegic all these years. He is also an inspiration to me.
With so many horror stories about the idol world being so focused on perfection, this is a nice refreshing story. I'm glad that her agency and fellow idols accommodated and encouraged her to continue. She's a bright and talented woman, very inspiring! Edit: I don't know much about the idol industry and have gotten a lot of replies about Japan VS Korea. Thank you for the corrections.
I think Japanese idol groups doesn't require perfection as long as they perform and entertain their fans. Maybe its the Korean idol industry who is more focus on perfection .
@@someday1988 Yeah, japan idol or artist doesnt too much requires everything as long as your talent good and cute(not really?). Korean idol are too much focus on perfect and a lot of toxic people and haters will attack and cyberbullying the people whenever idols/artist are doing something wrong or not. because they hates idol/artist's successful.
@@Sakadayumi i agree because there are idol with fat girl, old lady, and muscular girl in Japan. I saw it from this channel too 😂😂. As long as they entertaining and make us happy, why not?
This is amazing because Japan historically has been so ableistic. So the fact her company kept her. And she gets to be visible like this is so important.
@@grisly-bear585 whether it's really marketing scheme or not, at least the company still give her a stage, and the fans can see someone they can connect with. It's a win-win
I’ve been following Igari Tomoka for some time and I can barely find any interviews she does that have English subtitles so thank you for this video and for helping spread her story.
Big fan of Kamen Joshi, and as sad and tragic this accident was, she always stayed positive. I'm glad to see how supportive the group is, and she is never portrayed as superior or inferior to the other members. She's treated as she should be, a great member of Kamen Joshi. I'm sure she alone must have inspired many others.
It's really sweet that her group and fans continue to support her. But yeah, when you think about it, there's no reason why someone on a wheelchair should not be entertainers or performers.
@Apollonia Crysalis Yea, our case maybe is something wherein the cord is only compressed.. but in her case, it was snapped.. I really admire her for being so positive in life. Hoping the best for her!
@Apollonia Crysalis I see! Mine was i due to infection i guess, after 1 month of taking antibiotics, i was able to move my lower body and started rehabilitation immediately .. It took quite some time to be comfortable though damage on my spine due to infection will last forever.
The enthusiasm that this interviewer shows with her facial expressions while listening is through the roof LMAO. Nevertheless, thank you for covering this AB!
I mean, id imagine the interviewer understands the cultural and societal importance of her work and is thrilled to have a discussion with someone with a unique experience that can be shared and learned.
I agree. Whenever it is talked about, it's about the bad and the scandals. I think those conversations are important but there's a line between shedding light on issues and reporting on just the bad stuff to sell (or get more views if we're talking about YT). There's a lot of good happening in jpop and the idol culture, and this was a great example of that. Thanks AB!
She's really inspirational. Imagine if her agency didn't accept her again and her co-members, that would be a lot painful and harder. So, I would like to thank her agency and co-members as well for not just accepting her but also adjusting to her needs.
Wait a minute so Billboards actually falling onto people is an actual thing that can happen?! Then again I can't be too surprised since Japan is full of billboard advertisements.😰😨
@@bayupran Actually it wasn't a simple billboard, it was one of those big heavy wooden billboards often found at shrines. If you do an image search for "Igari Tomoka accident" and scroll a bit down you will see a picture of the billboard.
I'm glad she never let go of her dream to become an idol. If I had an accident like that, I would most likely quit that job and look for another that fits my handicap. She's so strong.
Representation is so important! I can only imagine how inspirational she has been to others especially sing how hard she worked to pursue her dreams despite the hardships.
You can tell from her story that she was a very driven and determined person both before and after the accident, becoming disabled didn't change who she is, it just highlighted who she is to the people around her even further. I'm really glad that he group members and agency supported her it getting back to the work she loves. Many times, people who become disabled tend to be dropped by their work and friends, either all at once or bit by bit and that is honestly one of the hardest parts/worst things to deal with.
Its not every day you hear a story of a Idol with a disability & it’s so encouraging for others. That’s awesome she want to break the stigma of how people with disabilities are seen in Japan. What a heart of gold she has!
Maybe I just lost faith with all the fake PR people do, but to me it's amazing that she was able to continue being an idol instead of a company building a group for someone with a disability
Thank you for sharing, Asian Boss! When visiting Japan in 2017 as a wheelchair user (not bound), I had trouble as Japan isn’t a wheelchair friendly country. I couldn’t find any elevators, ramps or wheelchair accessible hotel rooms. Her story is very inspiring!
There are two UA-camrs who discuss accessibility in Japan and do wheelchair friendly travel videos based in Japan. I think it’s a case of knowing where to look nowadays. I’ll find their names in case you’re interested (Wheelchair Walker & Accessible Japan).
tbh i felt like japan is actually really wheel chair friendly compared to other countries, they have elevators in most stations and tourist spots and they also have those yellow strips with bumps on them to guide the blind. Maybe not all hotels are wheel chair friendly because they r trying to run a business afterall but i really feel like it's still doing a better job than most countries out there.
I use a chair often due to pain from a chronic illness and to see another young person (I'm in my 20s) living their dream is so exciting to me! She and her group have just gained a huge fan!
The idol business is hard without a handicap, doing that in a wheelchair is an inspiration. Also, respect for her agency and the other idols for supporting her.
She's gunna get so many more fans from this as well as the group as a whole. I can't imagine having to change aspects of your life just overnight like that but I love how she could stay in the group and they worked around her so she'd still be seen! I loved how she had fans in wheelchairs, it was kinda cute
I myself am disabled and ever since I began my life with my chair, I've always wondered why there wasn't that many disabled musicians who needed mobility aids. Any semblance of a creative career I wanted was gone the minute I realized there was never a pop idol in a wheelchair. There wasn't a Rina Sawayama in a wheelchair, there wasn't a Nocchi in a wheelchair. So seeing this really lifted my spirits and makes me go... "Damn. I can do that maybe."
I like how they were mindful and slightly adjusted her outfit - longer skirt than most of the other girls, but one other girl matched, so she doesn't look different from the rest of the group, but doesn't have to feel awkward about possible extra exposure. It shows that they really care, and everyone is working together. Thank you for sharing this story.
While we are super glad that she is such a strong fighter for life, we must also salut her management agency and her members for never giving up on her.
it's so heartwarming to see that Tomoka hasn't let her accident effect her greatly she's still the bubbly positive girl she was before. *her positivity Despite great adversity is admirable 🥲❤*
Idk why i'm crying watching her, the fact that she push through everything after becoming disabled is really amazing. Such a beautiful person. Everything the best for the group
I have been following her since 2019 and I most say she is one of the greatest idols in all of Japan. It's not easy industry and being confined to a wheelchair doesn't help but she pulls through it. Truly an inspiration for all!
What a coincidence. I was actually coming up with an idea for a character in a series of mine Who is actually An idol in the same position as the Idol in this video. Nice timing Asian boss.
Really amazed that she's still chasing her dreams even after all the things she has experienced, and I feel like it's similar with how AB right now. They're in a difficult situation, but they're keep chasing what they want to do (dreams and being an inspiration for her. Keep spreading the truth and inspirational things for AB). I hope everyone could help AB in any way they could in this situation, just like her friends and company that keep supporting her after she got to that accident! I really hope AB could keep spreading the truth and inspirations!
its nice to see a more human side of idols. In japan, I think there is a cultural difference as they show a more attainable "idol" rather than korea or china's version for being an idol: perfect. I think all of them are great in their own ways, this is just what I noticed
That photo of Tomoka and her team mates at 5:34 is the embodiment of sisterhood 💖 Look what can be achieved when we support others who are different to us, rather than excluding them. The team is now stronger than ever - having Tomoka sets them apart from other idol groups and has brought them lots of new fans.
this is probably a dumb thing to notice but I love that they tailor her skirts to fit her in the chair instead of just throwing on what the rest of the team is wearing. The long blue dress looks like it was shortened and the colorful skirt is longer than the other girls. Its a nice touch
Thank you for this video. This is important support for kids/teens in wheelchair AND show-off to people that we disabled persons can also live normal life. It's all about the attitudes, both society and disabled people themselves. Arigato, ms. Igari! ♥️
This is nostalgic! Was a fan of the group when it started up.I remember hearing the news and being stunned. Her strength is really amazing. Also, I met her before and she is super genuine and great to talk to.
Tomoka Igari is so inspiring and I admire how she has chosen to see the bright side even during difficult situations. And it's amazing how many children will be inspired by her and feel more included! She is a bright light and I am so amazed by her drive as well!
@Apollonia Crysalis Yes I fully agree about not treating everyone the same regarding disabilities. Of course every situation and person is different. But I'm talking about her experience specifically and how she tried to look up on the brighter side of things and pushing herself to become a stronger person, which ended up inspiring many people too. And of course being open about your emotions and not forcing yourself to always be happy is important. It's toxic to have that mindset and I value people being open, because it's so important for mental health.
@@lyhthegreat well.. so i watched amber of korean idol fx video... she tells about her struggle being korean girls idol, that they worry about their weight alot, etc.. look and perfection are kinda everything there i think
So glad that everyone rallied behind her so that she could keep living her dream! Kudos to the company and to the other members of the group for happily letting her stay on and finding a way for her to do the choreography in her own unique way!
Okay, she is really awesome! I'm so glad she had so many people that never doubted her, and she is so strong for going through that and coming out and achieving her dreams. I bet she's a big inspiration for many.
An idol like her in a society that tries to hide their disabled away from the public eye is a big step forward. I heard before about "Kamen Joshi", that they are a very open minded idol group and have less requirements to outer appearance then other groups. I am very thankful for this video to bring this to my attention. It will be something interesting to discuss with my lecturers for Japanese society at university. Miss Tomoka is a strong person and I wish her all the luck in the world and the strength to keep going.
Wow... I love everything about this. Her fighting spirits and the people around her supporting her, all this is so magnificent and inspirational. Also, how smoothly she moves in the wheelchair! She is trully amazing.
What a fantastic mini-documentary! Igari Tomoka's story is truly inspiring and her determined character shows us all that life really is all about finding the silver lining no matter what difficulty comes in the way. Thank you Tomoka for your moving words and inspiring attitude! ❤️
This should be a normal thing - that PWDs should have the same opportunities as anyone. Her presence is making such a positive effect on everyone. I hope she will never give up, and never give in to her negative thoughts, I'm sure she has many. I look forward to hearing more about her and will be cheer her on!
In everyone of these Everyday Bosses profiles, there is always a moment when I know I am going to start to tear up. I lost count this time. ともかさんいつも頑張って。自分のことを教えて下さって本当にありがとうございます。
She's such a beautiful person! She's the epitome of what an idol is; not only an entertainer, but a figure of inspiration and encouragement. I love that so many people can feel seen by watching her.
We were made aware that there are some audio issues in this video and want to apologize for any inconvenience. Our team is now so small that we couldn’t check these issues thoroughly in advance. We will do better. If you enjoy watching stories like this from Asia and want to support our vision of bridging cultural and social gaps between Asia and the West, please subscribe to our channel and share this video. We appreciate you all so much!
Go out of business already, you cry baby stephen from asian boss
Thanks for bringing it up, this is great news!
Can you do more on disabilities? not just physical disabilities would love to see a discussion around neurodivergent as well.
@ҚазақстанҚазақтар herpes-stan
Awesome 🤩
Imagine how many little girls who are in a wheel chair look up to her. She’s creating dreams for so many kids who probably though they never could because of their disability.
I get teary when I think of this. ♡
@@DocRen Same
Agree 👍
100%! I have a disability and use a wheelchair and seeing someone like her would have meant the world to me as a child. There was no one in the media for me as a kid to look up to or who looked like me particularly in the music industry. I feel so inspired by her story!
And little boys of course
I'm glad her company didn't just drop her! The choreography for the one dance was excellent for incorporating her chair. It was like she was the center of the flower! Now I will follow this group to cheer her on.
A turtle will also follow the group and cheer them on.
@@TurtleChad1 Comrade Turtle!
Right! I literally want to cry this is so beautiful ;-;
me too
@@petrichor3647 so?
Asian Boss always show a part of society that is very rarely seen outside of its own community
She's not that unpopular, Japan idol group is well known for very unique concepts and people!
So true.
She's an idol tho
For real, they also did one with Big Angel, the self-described "Fat idol" Jpop group. Awesome interview!
That's why i love this channel :)
She's hardcore. The fact that a billboard fell on her and she's still pursue her dreams. I'll be cheering her on.
that sucks so much hope she makes it big
Damn, I wonder if she was the real life inspiration for Zombie Land Saga's Ai Mizuno.
I absolutely do think she's amazing, but I can't support a group that supports Trump, a man that tried to overthrow my government. I was shocked to see their MAGA Trump video with them wearing Trump caps and rooting for him. So disappointed.
@@hugoabel8921 well true
Yeah i do have friends who are autistic not like those who suffer from injuries but at least my autistic friends like to persue their dreams like me😉
She is what “idol” stands for.
Omg I feel awful for laughing of the 'stand' part
@@im_cafn you going to hell brehhhhhh xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
R E S P E C T
@@im_cafn hell boi
unlike a comedian rabbit
as someone w/ a sibling stuck in a chair or in bed all day, i can say she’s very inspirational
I pray that person can have encouragement from this woman! Xo
@@Sammysam44 thank you !
She is beautiful and an inspiration. I know someone who will be 49 years old this year. He was in an accident when he was 23 that left him quadriplegic all these years. He is also an inspiration to me.
I hope your sibling gets inspired/encouraged from this video
And i see you watched Grand Blue
lol fellow grand blue watcher
With so many horror stories about the idol world being so focused on perfection, this is a nice refreshing story. I'm glad that her agency and fellow idols accommodated and encouraged her to continue. She's a bright and talented woman, very inspiring!
Edit: I don't know much about the idol industry and have gotten a lot of replies about Japan VS Korea. Thank you for the corrections.
I think Japanese idol groups doesn't require perfection as long as they perform and entertain their fans. Maybe its the Korean idol industry who is more focus on perfection .
@@someday1988
Yeah, japan idol or artist doesnt too much requires everything as long as your talent good and cute(not really?).
Korean idol are too much focus on perfect and a lot of toxic people and haters will attack and cyberbullying the people whenever idols/artist are doing something wrong or not. because they hates idol/artist's successful.
@@someday1988 totally agree
@@Sakadayumi i agree because there are idol with fat girl, old lady, and muscular girl in Japan. I saw it from this channel too 😂😂. As long as they entertaining and make us happy, why not?
Idk i think this situation will carry on just until her contract with them expires or something
Unironically this could be the plot of a niche shoujo or shonen.
But I'm glad to see her story. Thank you for covering this.
I think your on to something.
I actually thought the same thing haha
@@TinyPierogi Yeah me too
There is an anime with something similar called josee the tiger and the fish.
Honestly her personality is that of a really determined MC, its awesome.
Her journey is more difficult but she neld it very well
s-sehun🤪
This is amazing because Japan historically has been so ableistic. So the fact her company kept her. And she gets to be visible like this is so important.
Granted, Kamen Joshi in general has always been against the norm for idol standards.
But still, this is a great step forward regardless 👍
@@13Kr4zYAzN13 isnt anti-idol or alt-idol getting popular nowday?
@@user-sc3oh1bw4z
Yeah
But what I'm saying is that Kamen Joshi has been doing this _before_ it was cool lol
Stop with the western cultural imperialism. Cultural colonialism trying to change POC countries.
It's really admirable for the agency to not leave her after the accident..
It's so cool to see her keep chasing her dreams despite everything..
They probably saw this wheelchair concept as a marketing scheme
@@grisly-bear585 whether it's really marketing scheme or not, at least the company still give her a stage, and the fans can see someone they can connect with. It's a win-win
@@grisly-bear585 that means they're being creative, duh
@@MiKi-sx3tt valid point. I like seeing her shine brightly instead of giving up and feeling miserable.
@@theabyssofjin3372 I agree that's the case too. My take is just the bottom side of the coin...
I’ve been following Igari Tomoka for some time and I can barely find any interviews she does that have English subtitles so thank you for this video and for helping spread her story.
She is hardworking and amazing
First
Second
Hi Ray 😂
Third
Make a better comment when, ure slacking these days
Big fan of Kamen Joshi, and as sad and tragic this accident was, she always stayed positive. I'm glad to see how supportive the group is, and she is never portrayed as superior or inferior to the other members. She's treated as she should be, a great member of Kamen Joshi. I'm sure she alone must have inspired many others.
I would like to follow this group and learn more about them after watching this video. Suggestions on how and where I can get to know them better?
@@BhuvanTeja98 also interested! Their group sounds awesome and I’ve never heard of them before this video.
It's so wonderful to see fans in wheelchair looking up to her. She is representing them.
It's really sweet that her group and fans continue to support her. But yeah, when you think about it, there's no reason why someone on a wheelchair should not be entertainers or performers.
I also fractured my spine, was in bed for a month and luckily was able to walk. So happy for her that she is so strong and positive!
@Apollonia Crysalis Yea, our case maybe is something wherein the cord is only compressed.. but in her case, it was snapped.. I really admire her for being so positive in life. Hoping the best for her!
@Apollonia Crysalis I see! Mine was i due to infection i guess, after 1 month of taking antibiotics, i was able to move my lower body and started rehabilitation immediately .. It took quite some time to be comfortable though damage on my spine due to infection will last forever.
The enthusiasm that this interviewer shows with her facial expressions while listening is through the roof LMAO.
Nevertheless, thank you for covering this AB!
@Jake Morgia Remember, the interviewer is meeting an idol for a long discussion. I can imagine that almost anyone would be thrilled to do that.
I love it
I mean, id imagine the interviewer understands the cultural and societal importance of her work and is thrilled to have a discussion with someone with a unique experience that can be shared and learned.
My heart is breaking imagining what she felt when she heard the news about her legs. I'm glad she didn't give up.
omg spotted a stay here hii
That's amazing. I'm really glad she didn't give up, and that others didn't give up on her as well. That's really sweet to see.
Jpop on it’s own doesn’t get talked about a lot outside of its community, so to see this is really amazing
I agree. Whenever it is talked about, it's about the bad and the scandals. I think those conversations are important but there's a line between shedding light on issues and reporting on just the bad stuff to sell (or get more views if we're talking about YT). There's a lot of good happening in jpop and the idol culture, and this was a great example of that. Thanks AB!
@Spaggetti Noodles i can’t tell if ur being serious or not
@Spaggetti Noodles oh no you’re right I just got confused on why you commented it, sorry if I sounded rude
She's really inspirational. Imagine if her agency didn't accept her again and her co-members, that would be a lot painful and harder. So, I would like to thank her agency and co-members as well for not just accepting her but also adjusting to her needs.
I strive to have the amount of positive energy this woman has. Godspeed to her.
Wait a minute so Billboards actually falling onto people is an actual thing that can happen?! Then again I can't be too surprised since Japan is full of billboard advertisements.😰😨
The weather was very very bad, I think it's very rare but could have happened anywhere, she basically was extremely unlucky.
I wonder how strong that wind was, considering Japanese took engineering safety very seriously even in building a simple thing as a billboard
@@bayupran i doubt it was an engineering failure, possibly a freak accident.
@@bayupran Actually it wasn't a simple billboard, it was one of those big heavy wooden billboards often found at shrines. If you do an image search for "Igari Tomoka accident" and scroll a bit down you will see a picture of the billboard.
@@OddballsHobbyChannel Thanks. Have watched it. It's not that big, but yeah I can see why it could cause so much damage.
I'm glad she never let go of her dream to become an idol. If I had an accident like that, I would most likely quit that job and look for another that fits my handicap. She's so strong.
She really is. But I don't think quitting a job to suit your handicap is less strong, though. Just finding a better suited place.
I would just give up and die
Representation is so important! I can only imagine how inspirational she has been to others especially sing how hard she worked to pursue her dreams despite the hardships.
she's so so strong and her journey so so inspirational
The way she stay positive and overcame a difficult situation is something so admirable. She is strong,beautiful, talented and a great role model.
You can tell from her story that she was a very driven and determined person both before and after the accident, becoming disabled didn't change who she is, it just highlighted who she is to the people around her even further. I'm really glad that he group members and agency supported her it getting back to the work she loves. Many times, people who become disabled tend to be dropped by their work and friends, either all at once or bit by bit and that is honestly one of the hardest parts/worst things to deal with.
She proves that everybody can be the best of themselves.
Its not every day you hear a story of a Idol with a disability & it’s so encouraging for others.
That’s awesome she want to break the stigma of how people with disabilities are seen in Japan. What a heart of gold she has!
Maybe I just lost faith with all the fake PR people do, but to me it's amazing that she was able to continue being an idol instead of a company building a group for someone with a disability
Fake smile. I hate it.
what is fake PR?
Thank you for sharing, Asian Boss!
When visiting Japan in 2017 as a wheelchair user (not bound), I had trouble as Japan isn’t a wheelchair friendly country. I couldn’t find any elevators, ramps or wheelchair accessible hotel rooms.
Her story is very inspiring!
There are two UA-camrs who discuss accessibility in Japan and do wheelchair friendly travel videos based in Japan. I think it’s a case of knowing where to look nowadays. I’ll find their names in case you’re interested (Wheelchair Walker & Accessible Japan).
tbh i felt like japan is actually really wheel chair friendly compared to other countries, they have elevators in most stations and tourist spots and they also have those yellow strips with bumps on them to guide the blind. Maybe not all hotels are wheel chair friendly because they r trying to run a business afterall but i really feel like it's still doing a better job than most countries out there.
@@lyhthegreat My family in Japan warned me that they’re not as disabled friendly as we are in the US and I found it to be very true in my experience.
For the 2020 Olympics the government has invested in making the road and places more wheelchair friendly in Japan. So now it's better
True
I use a chair often due to pain from a chronic illness and to see another young person (I'm in my 20s) living their dream is so exciting to me! She and her group have just gained a huge fan!
Good on her, glad she's following her dreams
The idol business is hard without a handicap, doing that in a wheelchair is an inspiration. Also, respect for her agency and the other idols for supporting her.
She's gunna get so many more fans from this as well as the group as a whole. I can't imagine having to change aspects of your life just overnight like that but I love how she could stay in the group and they worked around her so she'd still be seen! I loved how she had fans in wheelchairs, it was kinda cute
It’s so cool that’s she’s inspiring other wheelchair users in Japan.
"Stay positive even in hard times." A wonderful takeaway for all of us in times like these.
Definitely an inspiration. Even after her accident, she's doing what she can and not dwelling on what she can't do. Hopefully she recovers.
The idol industry is really tough and her journey to still continue is amazing. Best wishes to her efforts and the future.
I myself am disabled and ever since I began my life with my chair, I've always wondered why there wasn't that many disabled musicians who needed mobility aids. Any semblance of a creative career I wanted was gone the minute I realized there was never a pop idol in a wheelchair. There wasn't a Rina Sawayama in a wheelchair, there wasn't a Nocchi in a wheelchair. So seeing this really lifted my spirits and makes me go...
"Damn. I can do that maybe."
My mother is in a wheelchair so naturally, I had to watch this. Very inspiring! I’m proud of her
I'm sorry for your mother. I hope she has better situation than Tomaka.
@@aflower6955 Haha my mother isn’t an idol, but she’s doing great like Tomoka!! I appreciate you, thanks!
Billboard fell on her, now she's making sure that one day Billboard gonna hear her name! Go Kamen Joshi!
That's what idol really means, to Inspire and encourage people
Not even three minutes in and she mentions Morning Musume. I like that girl.
Same!!!
Right!!
I was so happy. I kind of want Asian boss to interview Morning Musume
@@chrissyyung9936 they totally should!
Me too!! :3
I like how they were mindful and slightly adjusted her outfit - longer skirt than most of the other girls, but one other girl matched, so she doesn't look different from the rest of the group, but doesn't have to feel awkward about possible extra exposure. It shows that they really care, and everyone is working together. Thank you for sharing this story.
I love how they incorporated her wheelchair into the dances. Thank you for introducing me to this Idol group! They sound and look amazing! ✨
While we are super glad that she is such a strong fighter for life, we must also salut her management agency and her members for never giving up on her.
it's so heartwarming to see that Tomoka hasn't let her accident effect her greatly she's still the bubbly positive girl she was before.
*her positivity Despite great adversity is admirable 🥲❤*
Idk why i'm crying watching her, the fact that she push through everything after becoming disabled is really amazing. Such a beautiful person. Everything the best for the group
I took care of a quad for 6 years. The struggles and pain faced by para and quadriplegics cannot be fathomed. Thank you for this.
i'm glad that Japan is embracing all kind of shapes, colours, and perspectives to break the boundaries in terms of entertainment industry!
Being in a wheelchair myself and having a similar condition (paraplegia due to SCI) she's really inspiring❤️
I'm a wheelchair user and gasped with delight when I saw the awesome LED lights on Igari Tomoka's wheelchair 😍I need some too! They're so awesome! 🥺😄
Wow so inspirational, she's a strong woman for pursuing her dreams after her injury.
This story is amazing and it just proves that whatever happens to you, you can always achieve your dreams!
I have been following her since 2019 and I most say she is one of the greatest idols in all of Japan. It's not easy industry and being confined to a wheelchair doesn't help but she pulls through it. Truly an inspiration for all!
What a coincidence. I was actually coming up with an idea for a character in a series of mine Who is actually An idol in the same position as the Idol in this video. Nice timing Asian boss.
Very weird and blurred meaning but lol ok
@@9b_b16_yatarjairolance2 I tried using voice chat i fixed it a little with better clarity
@@anubisgodess2353 Nice
I would love to read such serie!
where can we read :)
Seeing her be so positive continuing her dream is so inspirational. She is definitely someone many people can look up too.
They could design some pretty amazing steampunk-ish looks for the stage wheelchair
Really amazed that she's still chasing her dreams even after all the things she has experienced, and I feel like it's similar with how AB right now. They're in a difficult situation, but they're keep chasing what they want to do (dreams and being an inspiration for her. Keep spreading the truth and inspirational things for AB).
I hope everyone could help AB in any way they could in this situation, just like her friends and company that keep supporting her after she got to that accident! I really hope AB could keep spreading the truth and inspirations!
its nice to see a more human side of idols. In japan, I think there is a cultural difference as they show a more attainable "idol" rather than korea or china's version for being an idol: perfect. I think all of them are great in their own ways, this is just what I noticed
So sad but, such a heartwarming comeback. I'm happy she can still pursue her dream. Great story.
This girl is inspirational but her colleagues deserves special spot in heaven for being so supportive 🥺🥺
Bless her. Following her dreams no matter what obstacles she faces.
That photo of Tomoka and her team mates at 5:34 is the embodiment of sisterhood 💖
Look what can be achieved when we support others who are different to us, rather than excluding them. The team is now stronger than ever - having Tomoka sets them apart from other idol groups and has brought them lots of new fans.
I hope her popularity affords her financial security. She's such a positive role model. 🤗
They're all so beautiful. Inspirational story as well.
this is probably a dumb thing to notice but I love that they tailor her skirts to fit her in the chair instead of just throwing on what the rest of the team is wearing. The long blue dress looks like it was shortened and the colorful skirt is longer than the other girls. Its a nice touch
Thank you for this video. This is important support for kids/teens in wheelchair AND show-off to people that we disabled persons can also live normal life. It's all about the attitudes, both society and disabled people themselves. Arigato, ms. Igari! ♥️
Asian Boss always brings such insightful documentaries. I had no idea this was a thing.
Now this is inspiring, I’m glad the company embraces everyone for their talent and not superficial standards.
This is nostalgic! Was a fan of the group when it started up.I remember hearing the news and being stunned. Her strength is really amazing. Also, I met her before and she is super genuine and great to talk to.
Omg I love her confidence and positivity so inspirational 😩🥺
the fact the company didn’t drop her was amazing
Tomoka Igari is so inspiring and I admire how she has chosen to see the bright side even during difficult situations. And it's amazing how many children will be inspired by her and feel more included! She is a bright light and I am so amazed by her drive as well!
@Apollonia Crysalis Yes I fully agree about not treating everyone the same regarding disabilities. Of course every situation and person is different. But I'm talking about her experience specifically and how she tried to look up on the brighter side of things and pushing herself to become a stronger person, which ended up inspiring many people too. And of course being open about your emotions and not forcing yourself to always be happy is important. It's toxic to have that mindset and I value people being open, because it's so important for mental health.
I'm happy to see that the Idol scene in Japan is being more inclusive.
It's always been lol
@CIA there was no need to bring up kpop
@CIA k pop would never accept a wheelchaired idol?
@dumpster joe which is probably why kpop idols keeps committing suicide due to depression and cyber bullying
@@lyhthegreat well.. so i watched amber of korean idol fx video... she tells about her struggle being korean girls idol, that they worry about their weight alot, etc.. look and perfection are kinda everything there i think
I love her message to the people that are like her to chase their dream, But I also love how the agency is actually supporting her !
I was just gonna watch a couple minutes but ended up watching the whole thing. How heartwarming and inspirational, I wish her the best!
damn asian boss really bringing out stories that i could have never expected
I’m a huge fan of Igari. She’s extremely inspirational. I’m always happy to see more people learn about her
So glad that everyone rallied behind her so that she could keep living her dream! Kudos to the company and to the other members of the group for happily letting her stay on and finding a way for her to do the choreography in her own unique way!
Okay, she is really awesome! I'm so glad she had so many people that never doubted her, and she is so strong for going through that and coming out and achieving her dreams. I bet she's a big inspiration for many.
An idol like her in a society that tries to hide their disabled away from the public eye is a big step forward. I heard before about "Kamen Joshi", that they are a very open minded idol group and have less requirements to outer appearance then other groups.
I am very thankful for this video to bring this to my attention. It will be something interesting to discuss with my lecturers for Japanese society at university.
Miss Tomoka is a strong person and I wish her all the luck in the world and the strength to keep going.
She's has a very strong will. Very impressive.
She's the very definition of a good role model. She's a strong woman living her dreams despite of her circumstances. What an amazing person 👏
As a disabled person this was so inspirational, thank you! Kamen Joshi have a new fan thanks to this.
Wow... I love everything about this. Her fighting spirits and the people around her supporting her, all this is so magnificent and inspirational. Also, how smoothly she moves in the wheelchair! She is trully amazing.
I wasn't really expecting to see this today, but I only hope she knows how important she is. I'm glad her team is helping her so much.
What a fantastic mini-documentary! Igari Tomoka's story is truly inspiring and her determined character shows us all that life really is all about finding the silver lining no matter what difficulty comes in the way. Thank you Tomoka for your moving words and inspiring attitude! ❤️
This should be a normal thing - that PWDs should have the same opportunities as anyone.
Her presence is making such a positive effect on everyone.
I hope she will never give up, and never give in to her negative thoughts, I'm sure she has many.
I look forward to hearing more about her and will be cheer her on!
Been following Igari Tomoka for a while... She is really cool, she didn't allow her unlucky accident to stop her! Ganbatte!!
10:21 they made her a part of the choreography without making it all about her. 😍 That is talent.
In everyone of these Everyday Bosses profiles, there is always a moment when I know I am going to start to tear up. I lost count this time. ともかさんいつも頑張って。自分のことを教えて下さって本当にありがとうございます。
優しい人ですね。すごく悲しい出来事だけどいま一生懸命パフォーマンスをやったり他の車椅子で暮らす人たちをインスパイアしたりすることで私は感動しました。
She's such a beautiful person! She's the epitome of what an idol is; not only an entertainer, but a figure of inspiration and encouragement. I love that so many people can feel seen by watching her.
She isn’t an inspiration for people who use wheelchairs but everyone who has a disability
But people who use wheelchair have disabilities right?
@@cendolzx3861 yes but there are also disabled people who do not use wheelchairs
Thank you for covering this! What a strong and inspiring person she is