“This Is Ridiculous”: Fans Are Appalled—The “Necessity” of a ‘timelesz’ Members’ Apology Press Conference Following Shuto Inomata’s Arrest

TOKIO in black suits

The eight-member idol group “timelesz,” currently at the peak of its popularity, is facing a crisis.

Member Shuto Inomata (25) was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on September 19 on suspicion of assault for punching a female acquaintance in the face and injuring her, but he was released on the 25th.

According to investigators, around 10:30 p.m. on the 18th, inside a car parked in the lot of a convenience store in Koto Ward, Tokyo, he struck the woman in the face multiple times following an argument. The woman reportedly suffered a nosebleed and had bruises on her face.

The woman ran into the convenience store to ask for help, and a customer who was there called 110. The woman

“My boyfriend hit me”

.

His agency, “STARTO ENTERTAINMENT,” decided on the 19th to place Inomata on administrative leave. The agency stated that it will determine further disciplinary action based on the results of the police investigation.

During police questioning, Inomata

“We got into an argument, and I might have hit her. I panicked,”

during police questioning.

Inomata was referred to prosecutors on the 20th and has remained in custody since then. A legal expert commented:

“Since this is a charge of assault resulting in injury, detention is to be expected. If an out-of-court settlement is reached with the victim, he may not be indicted, but Inomata’s future as an idol is likely over,”

. “No matter the reason, if you raise your hand against someone, you’re out. This is especially true for an idol with many female fans.”

It’s unclear what disciplinary action STARTO will ultimately take, but looking back—including his time at the former Johnny’s Associates—the treatment differs depending on whether there is a victim.

Richard Keita Kusama (30) of “Aぇ! group,” who was arrested last October on suspicion of public indecency, left the group but has not been fired by the agency.

The same applies to former SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (52), who was arrested on similar charges of public indecency in 2009, and former KAT-TUN member Yuichi Nakamaru (43), who was placed on hiatus after some media outlets reported in August 2024 that he had a secret hotel rendezvous with a female college student.

“Both public indecency and allegations of infidelity are unacceptable, but the number of victims is limited. In Nakamaru’s case, one could view his wife as the victim, but if they discussed it within the family and she forgave him, it’s not for outsiders to meddle.”On the other hand, former TOKIO member Tatsuya Yamaguchi (54), who was referred to prosecutors in 2018 on suspicion of indecent assault against a minor, saw the other members hold a press conference in black suits to apologize, and he himself chose to leave the agency. Although he made the decision himself, there was an atmosphere that made it impossible for him to stay,” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the entertainment industry.

The current lineup of timelesz was formed following the “timelesz project” new member auditions, which took place from September 2024 to February 2025.

In addition to the three former Sexy Zone members—Fuma Kikuchi (31), Satoshi Matsushima (28), and Shori Sato (29)—Inomata, along with Masaki Hashimoto (26) and Daiki Shinozuka (24), who applied through the open call, were selected.Takuto Teranishi (31) and Yoshitaka Hara (31) were selected from STARTO’s acting division. Unlike Teranishi and Hara, Inomata and the other two members—who had not gone through the ranks—had long been viewed with skepticism by fans.

His departure is inevitable

At this point, the details of the argument between Inomata and the woman who filed the complaint remain unknown. It’s not even clear whether she was his girlfriend to begin with. However, among “timelesz” fans,

“The fact that he’s even in a relationship where he gets into trouble with a woman is a problem in itself” (a female fan in her 30s)

—suggesting that “this is a problem that goes even deeper than that.”

In response to the incident, Kikuchi—the group’s central figure—wrote on his paid, members-only blog:

“My heart aches and I am at a loss for words that a member has been arrested. I am deeply disappointed and feel utterly inadequate; I am filled with shame,”

Given his strong sense of responsibility, it’s possible that—similar to the case of former TOKIO member Yamaguchi—all members will hold a press conference once the police investigation is complete.

“The overwhelming consensus is that Inomata’s departure from the group is now inevitable,”

said the entertainment reporter mentioned earlier.

This site contacted STARTO Inc. to inquire about Inomata’s disciplinary action and whether a press conference would be held, but received no response by the deadline.

How will timelesz overcome its greatest crisis?