Prosecutors drop case against ex-timelesz member Shuto Inomata over woman's injury
In short
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided on 21 October not to indict Shuto Inomata (猪俣周杜), 25, a former member of the idol group timelesz, over suspected injury to an acquaintance woman. The decision was a suspension of prosecution (起訴猶予), and his agency STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced it and apologised again to those affected.
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The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided on 21 October not to indict Shuto Inomata (猪俣周杜), 25, a former member of the idol group timelesz, on grounds of suspended prosecution (起訴猶予). He had been arrested on suspicion of injuring an acquaintance woman. Nippon TV said STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced the decision, and Sankei and Yahoo! News Japan also reported the announcement. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
Yomiuri, Mainichi and TBS NEWS DIG reported that prosecutors said they had considered various circumstances, including the situation after the offence. [ 8 , 9 , 11 ]
According to the reports, the incident took place on the night of 18 September in a car parked at a convenience store parking lot in Koto ward, Tokyo, where Inomata is suspected of punching the woman in the face and injuring her. TBS NEWS DIG put the time at around 22:30 and said she was in her 20s and that he hit her several times; Nippon TV gave her age as 26. Yomiuri said the arrest was made by the Metropolitan Police Department's Tokyo Wangan station (東京湾岸署). Jiji Press and Mainichi said he was arrested on 19 September and released on 25 September; Jiji added that he was released with the disposition pending. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 11 ]
Nippon TV, citing investigative sources, reported that Inomata had said it became an argument and he panicked. Nippon TV and Jiji Press said a settlement was reached with the woman. [ 1 , 5 ]
STARTO ENTERTAINMENT terminated Inomata's exclusive contract effective 30 September. Yahoo! News Japan reported that the company questioned him and checked the facts, concluded there was a serious breach of contract constituting grounds for termination, and decided on the termination at a board meeting on 29 September. TBS NEWS DIG said the company had first announced on its website that his activities were suspended for the time being. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
In its notice on the non-indictment, STARTO said it had already ended the contract and again apologised to the person harmed, to fans, to sponsors and others involved for the trouble and concern caused by an incident during his time with the agency. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
Yahoo! News Japan also reported that Inomata was born on 17 August 2001 in Ibaraki prefecture and joined timelesz in February 2025 after the audition for new members, the timelesz project. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The decision ends the criminal case against Inomata, who was arrested in September. The documents do not describe wider consequences beyond STARTO's earlier termination of his contract.
Key facts
- The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided on 21 October not to indict Inomata, a decision of suspended prosecution (起訴猶予). [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- Inomata, 25, was arrested on suspicion of injuring an acquaintance woman by punching her in the face in a car parked at a convenience store in Koto ward, Tokyo. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 11 ]
- Jiji Press and Mainichi Shimbun said he was arrested on 19 September and released on 25 September. [ 3 , 5 , 11 ]
- Prosecutors said they considered various circumstances, including the situation after the offence. [ 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- STARTO ENTERTAINMENT terminated his exclusive contract effective 30 September. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Nippon TV and Jiji Press said a settlement was reached with the woman. [ 1 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Tokyo prosecutors decided not to indict Inomata, on grounds of suspended prosecution, on 21 October. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- STARTO ENTERTAINMENT terminated Inomata's exclusive contract effective 30 September. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- Prosecutors said they took into account various circumstances including the situation after the offence. [ 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- STARTO ENTERTAINMENT apologised to the person harmed, fans, sponsors and others involved for trouble caused by an incident during Inomata's time with the agency. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- A settlement was reached between Inomata and the woman. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Inomata was released on 25 September. [ 3 , 5 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- What Inomata said at the time of the incident. Only Nippon TV, citing investigative sources, reported he said it became an argument and he panicked.
- Terms of the settlement and exactly which circumstances led prosecutors to suspend prosecution. The documents give only the prosecutors' general statement that they considered various circumstances including the situation after the offence.
- The woman's age. Nippon TV gave 26, while TBS NEWS DIG said she was in her 20s; these are not in conflict but the figures differ in precision.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Around this time on 18 September, the alleged assault took place in a car at a convenience store parking lot in Koto ward, according to TBS NEWS DIG. [ 4 ]
- Nippon TV and Yahoo! News Japan carried STARTO's announcement of the non-indictment on 21 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reported the announcement and the agency's apology. [ 4 ]
- Yomiuri reported that prosecutors said they considered various circumstances including the situation after the offence. [ 8 ]
- NHK reported that the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office suspended prosecution. [ 10 ]