It’s easy to forget that Japanese AV stars are real people dealing with a ton of pressure in a tough industry.
On June 17, 2026, 27-year-old Riko Hoshino shared that she’s been diagnosed with adjustment disorder and is getting treatment for it.
She had planned a release event for her fifth photo book To Leo at two Tokyo bookstores on June 6, but had to postpone and eventually cancel because she wasn’t feeling well. On X, she posted a heartfelt apology to her fans:
“I’m so sorry, I’m really sorry. I’m afraid to appear in public anymore. No matter how hard I try, when many people and strangers are looking at me it makes me feel faint, and I get so scared to go somewhere alone that my arms and legs freeze up. I’m really sorry.”
She also explained that toward the end of last year, before her break, she was diagnosed with adjustment disorder along with symptoms like panic disorder and depersonalization disorder. She’s been in treatment, but things got complicated because she was pushing herself with daily rhythmic gymnastics practice on top of everything else. She felt torn between wanting to be fully dedicated to her work and fans while also needing to take care of her health.
Adjustment disorder isn’t rare among Japanese celebs — actress Kyoko Fukada went through something similar and made a strong comeback later.
What this means for her career
Hoshino said fans probably won’t see her at in-person events or venues anymore. But she’s not quitting AV or creative work. She plans to keep making better photo books and AV content, focusing more on the creator side (like directing or acting in projects) rather than just performing.
She also addressed some past drama where she got criticism for pushing back on fans who were overly complimentary about her looks. She admitted she’s not used to strangers calling her cute or beautiful, and sometimes struggled to accept that kind of attention. She apologized for not handling the deeper “fandom” affection (and the anger when she couldn’t match it) very well because of her inexperience.
Going forward, she wants people to love her work for its quality and creativity, not just her body.
For context, Riko is from Hokkaido, a former patissier who debuted in JAV in 2022. She went freelance this April, and her health struggles might’ve played a role in leaving her agency and taking that three-month break last year. It’d be cool (and kinda needed) for the industry if she shifts more into directing, since there aren’t enough female directors in JAV.
Wishing her the best with treatment and recovery so she can keep creating what she loves.
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