Japanese J-Pop star AKIRA, of the boyband EXILE, recently opened up about his past insecurities and struggles that led to mental and physical breakdowns. Battling these personal challenges was a rocky process, but with determination, AKIRA ultimately managed to emerge stronger. The disclosure comes as part of AKIRA's initiative to raise mental health awareness in Japan's entertainment industry, amid an increase in such issues among celebrities globally.

In Japan, mental health issues, particularly within the entertainment industry, have been gaining recognition lately, but are still considered a somewhat taboo topic. AKIRA's openness about his struggles is being applauded as a brave act that is expected to begin breaking down these social barriers and encourage more discussions about mental health support and resilience.

In comparison, the US/EU entertainment industries have also seen an uptake in celebrities voicing out about their mental health struggles. The difference lies in the level of societal acceptance and open discussion regarding such matters. While steps are being taken in Japan, the US/EU are more advanced in terms of shifting stigmas and adopting mental health awareness campaigns.