Japanese star convicted of indecent assault in Hong Kong
Kamimura, 26, is a former member of the boy band ONE N' ONLY, which expelled him shortly after the allegation emerged.
Fans queued to get into court for hours before the hearing, and some broke down in tears upon learning Kamimura had been convicted.
The court heard Kamimura touched the woman's thighs multiple times despite her objections, and invited her to go to the bathroom with him.
Magistrate Peter Yu found he had assaulted her, adding his behavior "clearly shows disrespect for women."
The incident took place in March during a celebratory dinner, after a fan meet for which the woman had been working as an interpreter for Kamimura and others.
The Japanese star was fined HK$15,000 ($1,900).
Kamimura, who is also an actor who appeared in the Japanese drama "Our Youth," hugged his court translator upon hearing he would be fined without facing jail time, media reports said.
The artist got "what he deserved," Yu said, adding that "had the victim not refused to remain silent and courageously come forward, she would have suffered an unpleasant experience in silence."
But ardent fans inside and outside the court were in tears.
Chen, a 30-year-old screenwriter and fan who gave only her last name, said she had come from northern China to watch the court session.
She said before the verdict that the trial has had a negative impact on Kamimura's image, and had incited "public outbursts of vitriol against the artist."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
6 hours ago
- Japan Times
Japan eyes tax relief for barrier-free movie theaters
The Cultural Affairs Agency is considering providing tax relief to operators of movie theaters if they renovate them to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, officials said. The initiative aims to help people enjoy cultural and artistic activities regardless of their disability. The agency plans to submit this proposal as part of its tax reform requests for fiscal 2026, which starts in April next year. Currently, operators of theaters and music halls can get a one-third reduction in the fixed property and city planning taxes if they carry out barrier-free renovations that meet government standards. While the agency plans to request that cinema operators be added to the list of businesses eligible for the tax reduction, it will also ask for a two-year extension of the tax relief, which is set to expire at the end of fiscal 2025. Eligible barrier-free renovations are expected to include installing viewing spaces and restrooms for wheelchair users and widening corridors to allow wheelchair users to pass each other.
Tokyo Reported
11 hours ago
- Tokyo Reported
Ex-pop idol Kenshin Kamimura convicted of molesting interpreter in Hong Kong
HONG KONG (TR) – A court here has found former Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura guilty of molesting a female interpreter after a fan event held earlier this year, reports Jiji Press (Aug. 13). On Wednesday, the court convicted Kamimura, a former member of One N' Only, of indecent assault and fined him 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (279,786 yen). The presiding magistrate said his behavior was 'patently a disrespect of women.' From the night of March 1 to early the next day, Kamimura repeatedly massaged one of the interpreter's thighs during a dinner that followed the fan event. He also invited her to go to a bathroom with him by showing her a message on his smartphone. Kamimura and the victim were not acquainted before the incident. The fan event was for his appearance in the television drama 'Our Youth.' On March 2, police arrested Kamimura. The following month, he pleaded not guilty at a hearing. Kamimura did not offer a defense in court about the incident. However, his lawyer argued that 'the venue was small, and it's possible that the act involved knee-to-knee contact.' Kenshin Kamimura (X) Also in attendance for the hearing on Wednesday were about 110 people, including fans from Japan and China. During the reading of the verdict, many of them could be heard crying. Talent agency Stardust Promotion Inc. announced the termination of Kamimura's contract after his arrest. The company said that he had undertaken 'a serious breach of compliance.' In 2015, Kamimura made his acting debut in the short film 'How is the Sky Over There?' He has since appeared in many television dramas. In 2018, he joined One N' Only. His departure from the group was announced at the same time as the termination of his contract.
Japan Times
12 hours ago
- Japan Times
Starto Entertainment fans targeted by social media phishing scam
A U.S. court has ordered X to disclose information on fake Starto Entertainment profiles that aimed to steal credit card information from fans, the talent agency said Wednesday. Starto Entertainment manages former members of Johnny and Associates. According to sources, at least 35 of the 73 fake performers' accounts disclosed by X were operated from Bangladesh. The accounts are suspected of luring fans to a fake livestream concert link that could only be accessed after they input their credit card information. Starto Entertainment is working with the Japanese Foreign Ministry to call on local authorities in Bangladesh to crack down on those behind the fake accounts, as there may be a coordinated scam operation in the country targeting its fans. The talent agency will also try to specify or seek legal accountability for fake accounts operated in Japan. Social media is rife with fake accounts impersonating Starto Entertainment performers, with some of them gathering more than 60,000 followers. 'We believe it is an infringement of personal rights to post things impersonating (our performers),' a Starto Entertainment official said. 'We will create our official accounts and raise awareness.' Translated by The Japan Times
