TOKYO — Japanese idol group timelesz member Shuto Inomata has been sent to prosecutors following his arrest over an alleged assault involving a woman in Tokyo, adding a new development to a case that has drawn widespread attention in Japan.
Inomata, 25, was sent from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Wangan Police Station to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on September 20, one day after he was arrested on suspicion of causing injury. Japanese media reported that he was transported in a vehicle at around 9 a.m. local time.
What happened in Tokyo?
According to police and Japanese media reports, the incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on September 18 in a vehicle parked at a convenience-store parking lot in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.
Investigators allege that Inomata got into an argument with a 26-year-old female acquaintance and struck her in the face. Reports said the woman subsequently went into the convenience store seeking help, prompting staff or people nearby to contact police.
Japanese reports said the woman suffered facial injuries and bleeding from her nose. The precise extent of her injuries remains part of the investigation.
Importantly, the allegations have not been established as fact in court.
Inomata has denied intentionally assaulting the woman. According to police-related reports, he told investigators that the pair had argued, that he panicked and that his hand may have accidentally struck her.
STARTO Entertainment suspends Inomata
Following his arrest, STARTO Entertainment, the agency representing Inomata, announced that he would be suspended from activities for the time being.
The agency said it took the situation seriously, apologized to the person who was allegedly harmed and said it would determine Inomata’s formal disciplinary action after authorities reach a decision.
The announcement does not constitute a final determination of criminal responsibility. The legal process is continuing.
Japanese entertainment outlets have also reported that timelesz’s activities are expected to continue without Inomata for the time being, although the handling of individual television appearances and programs has been under discussion.
A relatively new member of timelesz
The case has particular significance for fans because Inomata only joined timelesz in February 2025, after taking part in the group’s major new-member audition project, timelesz project.
According to Japanese reports, the audition attracted 18,922 applications, with Inomata eventually selected after a lengthy selection process.
His addition came as timelesz expanded its lineup following the group’s earlier three-member era. Inomata became part of the group’s newer eight-member formation.
From idol audition success to a legal investigation
The latest development marks a dramatic shift for an entertainer who had been building his profile through music and television appearances.
But as the investigation moves forward, several important questions remain unanswered, including the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation, the extent of the woman’s injuries and how prosecutors will handle the case.
For now, Inomata remains under investigation over the alleged incident, while his agency has placed his entertainment activities on hold.
The distinction between an arrest, a referral to prosecutors and a final criminal judgment is important: being sent to prosecutors does not itself establish guilt. The allegations and Inomata’s denial will be considered as the Japanese legal process proceeds.
What happens next?
The immediate focus is expected to shift to prosecutors, who will examine the evidence and determine the next legal step.
At the same time, STARTO Entertainment has said that it will make a formal decision regarding Inomata’s disciplinary status after the authorities’ process reaches a clearer stage.
For timelesz, the incident also raises immediate questions about upcoming group activities and how the eight-member act will proceed while Inomata remains suspended.
As the investigation continues, the next decision from Japanese authorities could determine the direction of both the legal case and Inomata’s future in the entertainment industry.
