Male Idols Apologizes After Group Mates’s Alleged Domestic Violence Against Girlfriend

A boy group has issued an apology after one of their members was arrested.

On September 19, it was reported that Inomata Shuto of the J-Pop idol group timelesz was arrested on suspicion of assault, resulting in him being suspended from group activities. His company also issued an apology to the victim and promised to provide updates as the investigation progressed. 

The alleged assault took place on September 18 inside a car parked at a convenience store lot in Tatsumi, Koto Ward. The woman was allegedly struck in the face several times and left with a bloody nose before running into the convenience store for help, alleging that her boyfriend had struck her.

Since the arrest, the seven other members of the group shared individual apologies on their paid fan cafe, expressing disappointment.

It pains me deeply and leaves me at a loss for words that things have reached the point where a member has been arrested. I am extremely disappointed, ashamed, and filled with regret.

— timelesz’s Kikuchi Fuma

Some of the group’s appearances have been altered as well; Nippon Television announced that it would be editing parts of timelesz’s appearance in the “120 Million Thank Yous: Song of Gratitude Festival” in light of the news.