Having Debuted When He Was 11, Japanese Male Idol Shocks Fans With Retirement Announcement At The Age Of 22

Japanese boy group Sexy Zone‘s maknae, Marius Yo, announced his retirement from the industry and the group on December 27, 2022. This means Marius Yo will also conclude his time with his agency, the esteemed Johnny & Associates.

His retirement plans shocked everyone, as he is only 22 years old as of 2022. Marius Yo provided a statement through his company and expressed he had come to the decision after a long time of consideration.

The decision was influenced by his health and dreams about regular life. He had been on hiatus since late 2020, where he rested in Germany, receiving psychological treatment. He also transferred to a college in Spain last summer.

The time spent with the fans of Sexy Zone is an invaluable asset to me. I’ve never regretted becoming an idol because of everyone. I’m going to look for a normal life belatedly. As such, it will be difficult to imagine a future where I return to Japan and the entertainment industry. After a long period of consideration, I decided to retire. I’ve talked about it with the rest of the members, and they cheered on my dreams and health. I’m studying politics, philosophy, business, and international law in college. I will grow and use my knowledge to become a useful human and help the world and international societies. I’m sincerely thankful to the Sexy Zone members and fans who have spent more than half of my life with me since I was 11 years old.

— Marius Yo

Marius Yo is quarter-Chinese, quarter-Japanese, and half-German. He made his debut as part of the five member group in 2011 at the age of 11.