Kenshin Uemura was brought to court by Hong Kong police for molesting a female translator.
Table of contents
case
The incident occurred at a celebration banquet on the evening of March 1, 2025, in Mong Kok.Portland Street"Ming Kee Chao Restaurant" on the 3rd floor of No. 180. X stated that...Kenshin UemuraDuring the banquet, he sat next to her and repeatedly touched the inside of her left thigh, each time for 1-2 seconds. He then used a translation app to ask her to "go to the restroom together." After she refused, Uemura attempted to add her as a LINE friend by scanning a QR code with his phone and asked if she had a boyfriend. X felt frightened and sought help from colleagues and event planners after the banquet. The following day (March 2nd), with the assistance of a social worker, she reported the incident to the police. Following an investigation, the police arrested Uemura Kenshin on the same day. It has been reported that he has been provisionally charged with...Indecent assault"crime.
Who is Kenshin Uemura?
Kenshin Uemura, born on July 8, 1999, is a Japanese actor, singer, and dancer. He was a member of the boy idol group ONE N' ONLY. His popularity surged from late 2024 to early 2025 after starring in the BL drama *Misseng ~Mizuki na Ore Tachi wa Fukiyō ni Shigenaka~*. On March 1, 2025, he came to Hong Kong to attend the drama's first overseas fan meeting. During the event, a celebration banquet was held at a restaurant in Mong Kok, where he allegedly committed indecent acts against a 27-year-old Hong Kong female translator (hereinafter referred to as X). The incident was exposed by Hong Kong media on March 5, shocking the Japanese and Hong Kong entertainment industries.
Event Summary
March 1, 2025, morning to evening: Work schedule
X is a professional Japanese teacher and translator with an N1 level Japanese Language Proficiency Test certificate, and is familiar with Japanese culture and business etiquette. On that day, she was hired by the event organizer to assist two Japanese celebrities—the defendants, Kenshin Uemura and Junsei Motoshima—with translation work for a commercial event at the Regal Space City Hotel. The event included a press conference, fan meeting, and related promotional work, lasting from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. X provided professional interpretation and translation services throughout, maintaining a professional distance from the defendants and other relevant personnel.
March 1, 2025, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Ming Kee Chao Restaurant Celebration Banquet
After the event, the organizers held a celebration banquet at the Ming Kee Chiu Koon restaurant in Mong Kok, with about 30 guests in attendance, including artists, staff, and representatives of the organizers. The restaurant had several round tables, and X and the defendant, Kenshin Uemura, were initially seated at different tables. X sat at a table near the center of the restaurant with other staff, while the defendant sat at another table with Junjiro Honjima and senior executives of the organizers, about 5 to 6 meters away. X stated that the atmosphere at the beginning of the banquet was relaxed, with guests focused on eating and conversation, and there were no unusual circumstances.
The following is a timeline chart of the events of that night, showing the sequence and time periods of the main events:
Event Details: First Contact with the Defendant During the Toasting Ceremony
March 1, 2025, 11:00 PM: Toasting Ceremony
Around 11:00 PM, the banquet entered the toasting session, with guests toasting each other and conversing. At this time, the defendant, Kenshin Uemura, left his original table, approached X's table, and sat down in the empty seat to her left. X stated that she didn't particularly notice the defendant's actions at the time, assuming it was normal social behavior during the toasting session. The defendant initially chatted with other guests, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious.
March 1, 2025, 11:30 PM: First inappropriate contact
At approximately 11:30, X suddenly felt something brush against her inner left thigh. Looking down, she saw the defendant lightly touching her inner left thigh with the back of his right hand, about 10 centimeters above her knee. X immediately pulled her legs away to avoid the contact, describing, "When I moved away, he didn't touch me again, but when I relaxed, he touched me again." The defendant then changed his actions, lightly patting X's left thigh with his palm through her long skirt. X described, "His hand was very big, and the tips of his fingers touched my inner thigh," the contact lasting about 1 to 2 seconds. X stated that she felt uncomfortable and confused at the time, but did not react strongly immediately due to the situation.
Further conduct by the defendant: Line QR Code and inappropriate offers
March 1, 2025, 12:00 AM: Display Line QR Code
Around midnight, the defendant displayed the QR code for the dating app Line on his phone under the table, attempting to add X as a friend. X described the defendant as "waving his phone and gesturing with his eyes," a clear and suggestive action. X chose to ignore the defendant's actions, but the defendant repeatedly displayed the QR code about 3 to 4 times, each time with about a minute's interval, showing a persistent attitude. X stated that she felt pressured at the time because the defendant's behavior went beyond the scope of normal social interaction.
12:15 AM, March 1, 2025: Inappropriate Proposal
The defendant then opened a translation app on his phone and showed X a sentence translated from Japanese into Chinese: "Want to go to the restroom outside together?" X was shocked but continued to ignore it. The defendant repeated the sentence about two or three times, speaking in a flippant tone and accompanied by a smile. X described feeling "heart racing and starting to feel uneasy" at that moment, but still tried to remain calm to avoid an awkward situation.
12:30 AM, March 1, 2025: Japanese dialogue
The defendant then switched to spoken Japanese and asked X, "How good is your Japanese?" X replied, "I can understand most of it." The defendant then asked, "Do you understand what 'outside the toilet' means?" X answered clearly, "I understand." The defendant pressed further, "Do you want to go together?" X immediately refused, "You can go by yourself if you want." X stated that the defendant's tone was provocative, making her extremely uncomfortable.
The defendant's actions of following and blocking the road
At 1:00 AM on March 1, 2025: X left his seat and was followed by the defendant.
To avoid further contact, X left her seat under the pretext of refilling tea and went to another table. Unexpectedly, the defendant immediately got up and followed her closely, saying, "He also wants to refill tea." X described the defendant's following behavior as making her feel "pressured by being monitored." When X tried to return to her seat, the defendant suddenly stood in front of her, blocking her way, and asked, "Can we meet in person?" X refused again, making it clear that she did not want to meet alone.
1:15 AM, March 1, 2025: The defendant apologizes and touches the victim again.
After X refused, the defendant said, "Sorry, you forgot about that." He then asked X if she was married, which she denied, saying she had a boyfriend and planned to marry him. The defendant did not stop his inappropriate behavior; instead, he reached out and touched X's left inner thigh again. X described the touch as "pulling and sweeping, about two or three times," each time lasting about one second. X tried to dodge several times, but the defendant touched her again when she relaxed, making her feel fear and helplessness.
X's response and reporting
1:30 AM, March 1, 2025: Complaints and Departure
Unable to tolerate the defendant's behavior, X complained to the organizers at 1:30 a.m. about the defendant's inappropriate actions. The staff advised her to leave the scene for her safety. X then left the restaurant, returned to her residence, and contacted a social worker that evening for support.
March 2, 2025, afternoon: Reported to police.
Accompanied by a social worker, X went to the police station on the afternoon of March 2nd to file a report, detailing the incident and submitting relevant evidence, including her work records and seating arrangements for that evening. The police subsequently launched an investigation.
The psychological impact and statement of X
X stated in court that the incident had a significant psychological impact on her. She described feeling "shame, fear, and self-doubt" afterward and hesitated to report the incident for fear of damaging her professional image. She emphasized that as a professional translator, she has always worked with courtesy and professionalism, but the defendant's behavior made her feel violated and unable to immediately defend herself in public. She stated, "I hope that by reporting the incident, I can ensure that similar incidents do not happen again."
Psychological Influence Chart: X's Emotional Changes
The following chart illustrates X's emotional changes on the night of the incident, based on her account:
Immediately dismissed from the group and terminated from the contract
Following the incident involving Kenshin Uemura's alleged sexual harassment of a Hong Kong woman, his management company, Stardust Media, issued a statement announcing that Uemura had been removed from the group and his contract terminated due to "confirmed serious breach of contract." His Instagram account has also been deleted.
Legal Process and Trial Records
- Arrest and First Court AppearanceOn March 2, 2025, Kenshin Uemura was arrested by Hong Kong police on charges of "indecent assault." He appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for the first time on March 4 and was granted bail. On the same day, his agency, Stardust Media, announced that it had terminated his contract and removed him from the group due to "serious compliance violations," sparking speculation.
- Second court appearanceOn April 15, 2025, Uemura appeared in court again, pleaded not guilty, and the trial was adjourned to July 30. During the hearing, he became emotional and cried at one point, but said he did not need rest.
- Interrogation processOn July 30, 2025, the trial began at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, scheduled for three days. X testified via video, detailing the events. On July 31, witnesses, including event planner Leung Siu-lam, testified that Uemura and X had spoken and used a mobile phone that evening, but expressed surprise at the indecent behavior. Uemura chose not to defend himself, and the trial concluded on August 1, with sentencing adjourned to August 13.
The following is a detailed table of the event timeline:
| date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2025 | Kenshin Uemura, who came to Hong Kong to attend a fan meeting, allegedly committed indecent acts against translator X during a celebratory banquet at a restaurant in Mong Kok that evening. |
| March 2, 2025 | Translator X reported that Kenshin Uemura was arrested by Hong Kong police on charges of "indecent assault". |
| March 4, 2025 | Kenshin Uemura appeared in court for the first time and was granted bail; on the same day, his agency, Stardust Media, announced the termination of his contract and his removal from the group due to "serious compliance violations". |
| April 15, 2025 | Kenshin Uemura appeared in court again, pleaded not guilty, and the trial was adjourned to July 30. |
| July 30, 2025 | The trial began at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts. Interpreter X testified that Kenshin Uemura repeatedly touched her inner thigh and invited her to the restroom together. |
| July 31, 2025 | The trial continued, with witnesses, including the event planner, testifying that Kenshin Mura and X had spoken and used a mobile phone that evening. The verdict was adjourned to August 13. |
| August 13, 2025 | The scheduled sentencing date is August 2, 2025 (no verdict has been announced yet). |
Legal consequences and possible judgments
Under Hong Kong law, a conviction for indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Attorney Makoto Endo (BLJ Law Firm) points out that Hong Kong follows the British legal system, and its legal fees and bail system differ from Japan's, with costs being two to three times higher. If Uemura has no prior criminal record and reaches a settlement with the victim, he may be able to obtain probation. However, as a foreign national, even if he receives probation, he could face forced deportation, making it difficult for him to remain in Hong Kong in the future.
Impact of the event and public reaction
- Career impactFollowing the exposure of the incident, fan meetings scheduled for Bangkok (March 22), Osaka (April 22), and Tokyo (May 11) were all cancelled. His co-star, Junsei Motoshima, expressed on social media that he was "unable to process his feelings and still cannot accept it." Film industry insiders revealed that although his starring film, *BATTLE KING!! Map of The Mind -Overture & Finale-*, was released on March 14, all promotional activities were abruptly halted.
- Family and legal expensesAccording to reports, Uemura's family has rushed to Hong Kong to hire lawyers, spending millions of yen. The news of his bail has not yet been made public, which means he may still be detained.
- Public reactionDuring the trial, over 200 fans and members of the public lined up outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to observe the proceedings, filling the gallery to capacity. Rumors circulated online that seats were being resold for as much as four figures. The trial attracted fans from Japan, Hong Kong, and mainland China, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of the event.
Latest Developments and Outstanding Issues
As of August 2, 2025, the case remains unresolved, with the final verdict scheduled for August 13 by Magistrate Yu Junxiang. Uemura has chosen not to defend himself, and the court will decide his guilt based on existing evidence, including testimonies from victims and witnesses. The public and fans are highly focused on the outcome of the case, as the future verdict will have a significant impact on his career and personal life.
