Pianist Kyohei Sorita gets suspended sentence for driving 144 km/h on Tokyo expressway
In short
The Tokyo District Court on 29 October sentenced pianist Kyohei Sorita (反田恭平), 32, to three months' imprisonment suspended for two years for driving at 144 km/h on a 60 km/h stretch of a Tokyo expressway. The judge called the offence dangerous and rejected a defence request for a fine. Sorita has apologised and said he will continue his musical work.
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The Tokyo District Court on 29 October found pianist Kyohei Sorita (反田恭平), 32, guilty of speeding under the Road Traffic Act. It sentenced him to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. Prosecutors had sought three months' imprisonment. Judge Hayashi (林欣寛) handed down the sentence. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 ]
According to the indictment and verdict as reported, Sorita drove a passenger car at 144 km/h on a road with a 60 km/h limit, 84 km/h over, on the Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular route in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, on 20 December last year. Mainichi and Sankei put the time at about 8:55 pm, while Asahi gave about 9 pm. Livedoor News said the stretch was the Yamate Tunnel. Mainichi reported that Sorita admitted the charge. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Judge Hayashi said the degree of speeding was large and the offence was dangerous and could have led to a serious accident, and that his criminal responsibility was not light. Kyodo, in a report carried by Tokyo Shimbun, said the court also found no urgency to justify the speed. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
The defence had asked for a fine, arguing that a prison term could hinder Sorita's activities abroad. The court rejected this, saying it did not mean he could no longer work at all and that there was a limit to how far it could be considered in sentencing. Asahi reported that the court noted Sorita had applied to a taxi company for a driver-dispatch contract so that he would not drive himself, and treated the lower risk of reoffending as a factor in sentencing. Kyodo said that even taking this into account, the court said it had to impose imprisonment. The judge urged him to act in future so as not to betray people's trust. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
Before the verdict the hearing was reopened. Jiji reported that Sorita said he was sorry for the trouble caused and was reflecting deeply. Kyodo quoted his final statement as saying it was true he had betrayed expectations, that regaining trust would take many years and that he wanted to live with gratitude. After the verdict he issued a statement on his website saying he was aware that restoring trust would not be easy and would devote himself steadily to music. Livedoor News said he indicated he would continue his music activities. [ 5 , 7 , 11 , 13 ]
Sorita had already apologised on his website after the first hearing on 6 October, and wrote that he had no way to contribute to society other than delivering music. Sankei reported that after the case became public he withdrew from a planned television appearance for an NHK school music competition and resigned as a cultural policy adviser to Nara Prefecture, while a national tour starting on 24 October went ahead as planned. Mainichi later reported in a headline that he had left his post as president of a Nara-based orchestra. [ 3 , 6 , 15 ]
Reports describe him as a pianist who won second place at the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition, tying the highest ranking by a Japanese entrant, and who also works as a conductor. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The ruling shows the court gave limited weight to the defence argument that a prison term could hinder a musician's overseas work. Reports also say Sorita has stepped down from some posts since the case became public.
Key facts
- The Tokyo District Court sentenced pianist Kyohei Sorita (反田恭平), 32, to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, on 29 October; prosecutors had sought three months. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 ]
- He was charged under the Road Traffic Act with driving at 144 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, 84 km/h over the limit, on the Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular route in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, on 20 December last year. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Judge Hayashi (林欣寛) called the offence dangerous and capable of leading to a serious accident. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- The defence sought a fine, arguing a prison term could hinder overseas activities; the court rejected this. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- The court noted that Sorita had arranged a taxi company contract so that he would not drive himself. [ 5 , 11 ]
- Sorita admitted the charges, according to Mainichi. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Tokyo District Court sentenced Kyohei Sorita to three months' imprisonment suspended for two years, the term prosecutors had sought. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 ]
- The offence was driving at 144 km/h on a road with a 60 km/h limit on the Metropolitan Expressway in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, in December last year. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Judge Hayashi described the offence as dangerous and capable of leading to a serious accident. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- The court rejected the defence request for a fine, saying a prison term would not make it impossible for him to perform at all. [ 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- Sorita apologised publicly, on his website after the first hearing on 6 October and again after the verdict. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- The exact time of the offence on 20 December. Mainichi and Sankei give about 8:55 pm; Asahi gives about 9 pm; Jiji says only that it was at night.
- When and why Sorita left his post as president of a Nara-based orchestra. Only a Mainichi headline mentions the resignation and no article text was available.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV and Mainichi publish reports of the guilty verdict and suspended sentence. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Sankei reports that Sorita apologised in court. [ 9 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes a Kyodo report with the judge's reasoning and Sorita's closing statement. [ 11 ]
- Livedoor News reports he apologised and intends to continue his music activities. [ 13 ]
- Mainichi reports he has stepped down as president of a Nara-based orchestra. [ 15 ]