Japanese pop star Minami Minegishi has shaved her head as part of an apology to fans after she broke her record label's rules and spent a night with her boyfriend.

The 20 year old, who is a member of the band Akb48, was recently reprimanded by her management team for violating its no-dating rule after she was photographed leaving the apartment of her dancer boyfriend, Alan Shirahama.

And now Minegishi has sought forgiveness by posting a four-minute video on her groups' official website, during which she sobs as she cuts off her long hair - which has long been seen as an act of contrition in the country.

She is quoted by BBC News as saying, "I don't believe just doing this means I can be forgiven for what I did, but the first thing I thought was that I don't want to quit Akb48. If it is possible, I wish from the bottom of my heart to stay in the band. Everything I did is entirely my fault. (My actions were) thoughtless and immature... I am so sorry."