100+ Failed Auditions: Aspiring Idol Becomes A Porn Star After Growing “Too Old” For Debut
While the idol industry has expanded to include idols from more diverse backgrounds, one aspect has continued to be a topic of debate: age. A push for more adult idols has happened, but agencies continue to prefer younger, usually teenage idols, despite criticism.
As a result, the idea that someone can be “too old” to debut is an unfortunate reality, with agencies even expressing this in idol auditions.
Recently, a trainee hopeful facing this turned to an unexpected, yet not unusual career path as a result.
22-year-old Ichimori Arisu (also spelled Ichimori Alice) aspired to be an idol, specifically hoping to join the AKB48-inspired “rival group” Nogizaka46.
However, despite her best efforts, Ichimori failed to pass at least 100 auditions, dampening her idol hopes and dreams. Additionally, she missed the “golden age” for her debut and eventually grew “too old” to audition for Nogizaki46.
Instead of completely abandoning the entertainment industry, Ichimori took her career in a different direction and prepared for a different debut as an AV (adult video) actress.
Her debut video, released in July 2025, was based on her failed auditions and titled “Aspiring Idol Fails 100 Auditions: ‘Fine, I’ll Strip!!”
Though this differs from her previous idol goal, her dream of being an entertainer has been fulfilled.
