Pianist Kyohei Sorita indicted over 144 km/h speeding; admits charge, verdict 29 Oct
Version 3: Sorita admitted the charge at the first hearing, the defence sought a fine rather than imprisonment, the hearing concluded the same day with a verdict set for 29 October, and NHK announced it had dropped him as a judge for its national school music competition.
In short
Pianist Kyohei Sorita, 32, has been indicted on-home for driving at 144 km/h on the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo on 20 December last year, 84 km/h over the 60 km/h limit. At a first hearing at the Tokyo District Court on 6 October, prosecutors sought three months' imprisonment and the defence asked for a fine, Jiji Press reported; the hearing concluded the same day and a verdict is due on 29 October. NHK said on 7 October that it had dropped Sorita as a special judge for its national school music competition.
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Pianist Kyohei Sorita, 32, has been indicted on-home on a charge of violating the Road Traffic Law over speeding, according to NHK News, Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun and other outlets. Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei and Jiji Press, citing the indictment, said he is alleged to have driven a passenger car at 144 km/h on the inner loop of the Shuto Expressway Central Circular Route in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, on 20 December last year, 84 km/h above the 60 km/h limit. Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei put the time at about 20:55, while Asahi Shimbun said around 21:00 and specified the area near Nakameguro 2-chome. An on-home indictment means he was not detained. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
A first hearing was held at the Tokyo District Court on 6 October, Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei, Jiji Press, Asahi Shimbun and Nippon TV News reported. Prosecutors sought three months' imprisonment, and Jiji Press reported that Sorita admitted the charge and that the defence asked for a fine. The hearing concluded the same day, and Jiji Press, Asahi Shimbun and Nippon TV News said the verdict is scheduled for 29 October. The documents do not say whether Sorita attended in person. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
The case moved on the next day, when NHK said it would drop Sorita from its broadcast of the 93rd NHK National School Music Competition, Mainichi Shimbun reported, with Sankei Shimbun also carrying the cancellation. Sorita had been due to serve as a special judge for the junior high school division, to be broadcast live on Eテレ on 12 October, and was replaced by 横山だいすけ; he wrote the words and music for the division's set piece, “花へ。”. NHK explained the decision as “a comprehensive judgement of the programme's content and staging” and said it was “regrettable” that Sorita, who wrote the set piece and was to appear, had been charged under the Road Traffic Law. [ 13 , 14 ]
Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei and Nippon TV News said Sorita took second place at the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition, matching the best result by a Japanese entrant, and also works as a conductor. The music office of which he is representative said on its website: “We sincerely apologise for the worry and trouble caused to many people. We will report again once the trial is over.” [ 3 , 5 , 12 ]
The indictment was reported across outlet types on 6 October: Livedoor News at 14:05, NHK News at 14:26, Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei at 14:41, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun at 15:05, Yahoo! News Japan at 15:25, TBS NEWS DIG at 16:13, Jiji Press at 17:10, Asahi Shimbun at 17:27 and Nippon TV News at 19:32. Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun made only their headlines on the indictment and the 84 km/h excess visible, and the community outlets Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan carried brief items; Yahoo! cited a Japan National Orchestra statement as its source. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
Why it matters
Sorita is a widely recognised pianist, and the case is being carried by national broadcasters, business dailies and aggregator outlets, giving the prosecution unusual visibility. The first consequence beyond the courtroom is public: NHK removed him from a national school music competition for which he wrote the set piece and was to appear on air. A verdict is scheduled for 29 October, when the sentence question, including the defence request for a fine rather than imprisonment, will be settled.
Key facts
- Pianist Kyohei Sorita, 32, was indicted on-home for a Road Traffic Law violation (speeding). [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- He is alleged to have driven at 144 km/h, 84 km/h above the 60 km/h limit. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The alleged incident occurred on 20 December last year on the inner loop of the Shuto Expressway Central Circular Route in Meguro Ward, Tokyo. [ 3 , 5 , 10 ]
- A first hearing was held at the Tokyo District Court on 6 October, and prosecutors sought three months' imprisonment. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The hearing concluded the same day and a verdict is scheduled for 29 October. [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- Sorita took second place at the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition and also works as a conductor. [ 3 , 5 , 12 ]
- The music office of which he is representative said on its website that it sincerely apologises for the worry and trouble caused to many people and will report again once the trial is over. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- NHK said it will drop Sorita from its 12 October broadcast of the 93rd NHK National School Music Competition, replacing him with 横山だいすけ. [ 13 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kyohei Sorita was indicted on-home over speeding on the Shuto Expressway. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- He was driving 84 km/h over the speed limit. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The alleged speed was 144 km/h, against a 60 km/h limit. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- A first hearing was held at the Tokyo District Court on 6 October. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- Prosecutors sought three months' imprisonment. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The hearing concluded the same day and a verdict is scheduled for 29 October. [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- Sorita's music office published an apology on its website. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- NHK announced it would drop Sorita from the 12 October school music competition broadcast and replace him with 横山だいすけ. [ 13 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Sorita admits or denies the charge. Only Jiji Press reports that he admitted the charge; the other outlets covering the hearing do not state a plea, and no official source confirms it.
- The defence position in court. A request for a fine is reported only by Jiji Press; no other document describes a defence argument.
- The exact time of the alleged offence. Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei say about 20:55; Asahi Shimbun says around 21:00.
- Whether Sorita attended the hearing in person. The documents describe the hearing and the sentencing request but do not say where the defendant appeared from.
- NHK's full reasoning and any further consequences for Sorita's engagements. NHK's stated reason, a comprehensive judgement of the programme's content and staging, is reported only by Mainichi Shimbun, and no document says whether other appearances are affected.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Sorita is alleged to have driven at 144 km/h, 84 km/h over the limit, on the inner loop of the Shuto Expressway Central Circular Route in Meguro Ward, Tokyo; Asahi Shimbun puts the time at around 21:00 and specifies the area near Nakameguro 2-chome. [ 3 , 5 , 11 ]
- Livedoor News reports the on-home indictment over the alleged December speeding. [ 1 ]
- NHK News reports the indictment and first hearing, citing 144 km/h and the 84 km/h excess. [ 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei report the indictment; Sankei and Nikkei cite the Tokyo District Court hearing and the prosecution's request for three months' imprisonment. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports the on-home indictment and the 84 km/h excess. [ 7 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan reports the on-home indictment, citing a Japan National Orchestra statement. [ 8 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the on-home indictment and that the first hearing was held at the Tokyo District Court. [ 9 ]
- Jiji Press reports the hearing, Sorita's admission of the charge, the prosecution's request for three months, the defence request for a fine and a verdict date of 29 October. [ 10 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the hearing concluded the same day and that the verdict is due on 29 October. [ 11 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the indictment, the 60 km/h limit and the same-day conclusion of the hearing, and quotes the office statement. [ 12 ]
- The following day, Sankei Shimbun reports that NHK has announced the cancellation of Sorita's appearance at the school music competition. [ 13 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun reports NHK's decision in detail, including the replacement judge and NHK's stated reason. [ 14 ]