Agency ends contract of Japanese idol Shuto Inomata over alleged assault
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Shuto Inomata joined the group in 2025 through an audition programme.
PHOTO: INOMATA_SHUTO_OFFICIAL/INSTAGRAM
- A Japanese agency ended Shuto Inomata's contract after his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman in Tokyo, citing a serious contract violation.
- Inomata joined pop idol group timelesz in 2025 via a Netflix-aired audition open to outsiders.
- The group will continue with seven members despite the controversy surrounding Inomata's case, said the agency.
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A Japanese management agency said on Oct 1 it has terminated the exclusive contract of Shuto Inomata, a member of pop idol group timelesz, who was arrested in September for alleged assault and subsequently released.
Inomata, 25, was arrested on Sept 19, a day after allegedly hitting a woman in her 30s in the face multiple times in a car parked in front of a convenience store in Tokyo’s Koto ward. Since his release on Sept 25, he has been questioned by police on a voluntary basis.
Starto Entertainment said that it had found “a serious violation of the exclusive contract and determined that this constitutes grounds for termination”.
Inomata joined timelesz in 2025 through an audition programme that was aired on the Netflix streaming service for new members of the boy band.
The show gained public attention and controversy particularly for opening the doors for new recruits who were not part of Starto or any other entertainment agency.
The group will continue their activities with the remaining seven members, according to the agency.
The septet appeared before the press in Tokyo to apologise over the incident.
Member Fuma Kikuchi said: “We apologise for causing great concern and trouble to our fans, relevant parties and all those who have supported us.”
Kikuchi pledged that they would do their best to make their group one that people feel is “worth supporting”. KYODO NEWS