TOKYO — A man in his 40s who allegedly pushed Japanese entertainer Haruna Kojima down on a street in the capital’s Shibuya Ward on Oct. 28 has been arrested on suspicion of assault, investigative sources have disclosed.
Kojima, a former member of the pop group AKB48, was not injured in the incident, which occurred near the Shibuya Scramble Crossing shortly after 9 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The man, arrested on the spot by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)’s Shibuya Police Station, is suspected of grabbing Kojima’s arm and pushing her down. He has reportedly admitted to the allegations. Kojima had taken part in an event in Shibuya Ward and is believed to have been assaulted when she came out of the venue.
According to investigative sources, a worker at Kojima’s agency told the MPD in early August that “a radical fan keeps turning up at every event.” The fan is believed to be an overseas student from Taiwan. The MPD believes this is the same person who was arrested and is continuing to investigate the case.
(Japanese original by Ayumu Iwasaki, Tokyo City News Department)
Man arrested for allegedly assaulting entertainer Haruna Kojima on Tokyo street