Who Will Pay Former timelesz Member Shuto Inomata’s Contract Penalties? His Most Troubling Deal May Not Involve TV or Commercials
Could the Other Members Make Up for the Losses Through Their Work?
He threw away a long-awaited opportunity over a single mistake.
Shuto Inomata, 25, a former member of timelesz, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a female acquaintance and was later released. Although no criminal disposition has yet been announced, his exclusive contract with his agency, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, was terminated effective September 30.
On October 1, seven members, including Fuma Kikuchi, 31, held a press conference in Tokyo to apologize. They distanced themselves from Inomata, saying:
“We cannot continue activities together.”
“There is no need for you to apologize to us.”
What people want to know is the scale of the financial damage caused by the incident. Just to name a few examples, the group’s solo advertising campaign for ByGLOW, a fermented beauty supplement, was canceled. Commercials featuring the group for Nissin Foods’ Chicken Ramen and the men’s clothing retailer AOKI were also suspended. The contract with CHARGESPOT, a smartphone charging station rental service, ended on October 1, and the company removed promotional materials featuring the group.
A source at an advertising agency explains:
“If a scandal occurs during the contract period and the expected advertising results cannot be achieved, the company can demand compensation in the form of a penalty fee. The advertising agency will likely mediate between the client and STARTO to find a settlement.
“Television networks have also incurred editing costs, such as cutting Inomata’s scenes. However, rather than seeking damages directly, these costs may be treated as an outstanding debt that the remaining members make up for through their work on other occasions.”
The party legally responsible for payment is STARTO, the company that had an exclusive contract with Inomata.
In 2016, after Becky, 42, was embroiled in a widely publicized affair scandal with Enon Kawatani, 37, of Gesu no Kiwami Otome, she reportedly told her agency that she would personally cover the penalty fees and ultimately paid hundreds of millions of yen. However, such cases are rare.
Inomata was a member of timelesz for only a short time, and his income is hardly reassuring. It seems unlikely that he has the financial means to pay the costs himself. Ultimately, his agency will probably have to shoulder most of the burden.
Shelved or Reshot
“From a legal standpoint, STARTO can demand financial compensation from Inomata for violating the terms of his contract with the company, but this could lead to a legal battle. A common approach is to have Inomata sign a pledge that he will never be involved with timelesz again in exchange for not making him pay a penalty fee. He would also be prohibited from disclosing any information he learned while working with the group. The last thing anyone wants is for him to suddenly become a YouTuber and start spilling secrets,” says the advertising agency source quoted earlier.
Penalty fees amounting to hundreds of millions of yen are considered almost certain. However, industry insiders point to a loss that is far more serious than television or commercials: a film in which Inomata appeared.
Apparently, there was a film in which Inomata completed shooting his scenes just days before the incident. The cast reportedly includes popular actors Sadao Abe, 56, and Sairi Ito, 32.
“Shochiku was scheduled to distribute the film, with a release planned for next year, but Inomata’s incident has made its future uncertain. If a scandal happens before filming begins, there is still room to maneuver. But when most of the filming has already been completed, everything becomes a mess,” says a film industry source.
In May 2023, an incident involving kabuki actor Ennosuke Ichikawa, 50, threw the release schedule of a film into disarray. The film was Emergency Interrogation Room: THE FINAL, starring Yuki Amami, 59. All filming had been completed, and the movie was simply waiting for its scheduled June 16 release that year. An entertainment manager familiar with the situation recalls:
“The film crew was absolutely devastated. Ichikawa’s female manager lost a tremendous amount of weight and was visibly exhausted. At one point, rumors even circulated that the film would be shelved. But because it was intended as the culmination of Amami’s work in the series, the cast adjusted their schedules and reshot the scenes.”
The theatrical release finally took place on December 26, 2026, more than two and a half years after the original schedule. After numerous twists and turns, actor Kanji Ishimaru, 61, took over Ichikawa’s role as the prime minister.
“If an actor commits an offense involving a victim, releasing the film becomes impossible. That is an industry rule. The production is forced to choose between shelving the film and reshooting it. In the former case, it is considered proper etiquette to reimburse the costs incurred up to that point, plus an additional amount reflecting a portion of the box-office revenue the film would likely have earned had it been released.
Even if the production opts for reshoots, it must cover the additional expenses. Film and television productions that have already completed filming suffer the greatest damage from scandals. Losses can reach hundreds of millions of yen overnight,” says an executive at another entertainment agency.
It remains unclear how much screen time Inomata had, but reshooting would require coordinating the schedules of the other cast members and finding a replacement actor. In Ichikawa’s case, several actors reportedly turned down offers before Ishimaru was finally selected.
“This is not just a matter concerning Inomata personally; it also affects the agency’s credibility. More recently, the sudden disbandment of WEST. also had an impact on business. If clients start avoiding STARTO talents because they think, ‘These performers might cause trouble,’ it’s over,” says the same entertainment agency executive.
This publication contacted STARTO to ask whether penalty fees would be imposed in connection with the commercials and film, but received no response by the deadline.
At the press conference apologizing for the incident, Kikuchi called for strict compliance with rules and thorough training. It is understandable that he feels a sense of crisis. For some time to come, even timelesz members’ romantic relationships will likely be scrutinized harshly.
PHOTO： Shinji Hasuo