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A former Japanese badminton player with four international titles has admitted that she disliked the sport, saying her new career as a livestreamer is more lucrative
Speaking to Japanese media Weekly Moonchun on Saturday, 12 September, 30-year-old Akane Araki said she would have earned only 200,000 yen (about RM5,280) a month after retiring.
During her active years, she also had to personally cover the costs of private training, shuttlecocks, rackets, and string replacements, which further deepened her doubts about continuing as an athlete, reported the Asian Business Daily.
Two to three months after retiring, Araki saw an opportunity in the remote livestreaming market, which had expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite strong opposition from her family, she moved out and into a small apartment in Tobu-Nerima, Itabashi, Tokyo, paying 60,000 yen (RM1,600) in monthly rent. She then began livestreaming alone using nothing but her smartphone.
To avoid being distracted by negative reactions to her career change, she even cut ties with her former badminton colleagues on social media.
Today, Araki has 231,000 followers on TikTok, and another 102,000 followers on Instagram, earning up to 16 million yen (RM422,200) a month
This is about 80 times more than what she would have earned had she stayed with the team after retiring.
Her rise to fame, however, was far from easy, as she was deceived into unfair agreements and faced criticism online.
Araki paid 1 million yen (RM26,300) in "training centre fees" to join an entertainment agency, but received little actual guidance because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other complications.
The agency also allegedly took 70% of the donations she received from her livestreams.
"Because I spent my whole life in sports and knew nothing about the ways of the world, I ended up being deceived and suffered heavy losses," she shared, adding that she is now cautious of individuals who approach her with business opportunities.
Araki also faced online criticism over her change in appearance, with some netizens accusing her of undergoing plastic surgery after retiring from badminton.
In response, she said she had simply lost 15kg and changed her style, stressing that she had never undergone cosmetic surgery or used an AI avatar.
Araki admitted in the recent interview that she has never liked the sport, having started training in her mother's footsteps at just 7
Her mother was also a world champion, and Araki said her life revolved almost entirely around the badminton court from elementary school through junior high and high school.
She said that she has never liked competition and even felt guilty when she defeated an opponent and saw them cry as a child, reported China Press.
She now runs an Internet broadcaster management agency with 10 creators under its recruitment, including former badminton players like herself.
Her business venture also addresses a longstanding issue in the sports industry: helping retired athletes transition into new careers.
Having dedicated much of their lives to sports from a young age, many athletes struggle to adjust to life after retirement and find career opportunities outside of joining another sports team.
