日本演藝圈近日再度掀起巨大風波。原屬於更名後的「STARTO」事務所（前傑尼斯事務所）旗下男子偶像團體Aぇ！group 的成員草間理查德敬太（Kusama Richard Keita），因涉嫌在公共場所公然露下體，觸犯日本《刑法》第174條公然猥褻罪，於10月4日清晨在東京都新宿區被警方逮捕。此事在日本社會及粉絲圈內引發強烈震動。

事件發生於當日清晨5點40分左右，地點位於新宿二丁目一棟五層綜合大樓的出入口。根據警方與媒體報導，一名路人男子發現草間站在大樓門口，疑似下半身赤裸，情況十分不尋常，遂立即報警。警方趕抵現場後確認其行為屬於公然猥褻，當場將其拘捕。

據悉，事發地所在的建築是一棟以同志娛樂場所為主的複合大樓。三樓為知名同志酒吧，四樓則是設有淋浴設施的「視頻包廂型發展場（ハッテン場）」，意指供男性之間進行性行為的私密空間。由於新宿二丁目本身是日本最著名的同志文化聚集區之一，因此深夜至清晨期間往來人群複雜、氣氛開放。然而，一位熟悉當地情況的居民指出：「即使這裡風氣開放，也很少有人會如此在大街上裸露。警方會被報警叫來，說明他的行為確實嚴重超出了容忍範圍。」

調查顯示，草間被發現時處於嚴重醉酒狀態，甚至一度無法清楚回答警方提問，顯示出明顯的酒後失態。警方初步認為，他極有可能因飲酒過量失去自控力而導致該行為。這並非他首次因酗酒引發問題——兩年前，同團出身的演員 今江大地 曾在廣播節目上半開玩笑地表示：「理查德那傢伙總是遲到，熬夜的理由嘛，大家都懂（笑）……來的時候還帶著一股怪味。」當時這段話被外界解讀為草間長期飲酒過量並影響工作紀律的暗示。

草間理查德敬太現年29歲，父親為美國人、母親為日本人，是傑尼斯歷史上少見的黑人混血偶像。他以陽光形象和幽默感受到不少年輕粉絲喜愛。事件曝光後，讓粉絲與業界震驚不已。

其所屬的 STARTO娛樂公司（前傑尼斯改組後的新名稱）隨即發表聲明，向公眾與粉絲致歉，承認草間確實被警方拘留兩天後於10月6日獲釋。聲明中指出：「對於草間理查德敬太在酒醉狀態下的不當行為，本公司深表歉意。本人目前深刻反省，今後將暫停所有藝能活動。」

該事件對 Aぇ！group 的整體形象造成極大打擊。多家節目與廣告商已緊急採取行動——多檔由該團體參與錄製的綜藝節目臨時更改內容、刪除片段或延後播出，部分代言品牌亦悄然撤下其形象宣傳。根據日媒報導，電視台與廣告方的「危機處理」行動幾乎在草間被釋放當天就全面展開。

目前，日本社會對此事件的反應不一。一部分人認為他應該為不當行為負責，尤其作為公眾人物更應自律；但也有人對其可能因酗酒導致失控表示同情，呼籲給予改過機會。娛樂評論家指出：「草間是STARTO改革後的新生代代表之一，如今卻因這樣的醜聞蒙羞，對公司重塑形象的努力是重大挫折。」

綜觀整起事件，草間理查德敬太的「公然猥褻事件」不僅牽動偶像事務所的品牌信譽，也再次引發日本社會對藝人私德與酗酒文化 的反思。雖然他已被釋放，但未來能否重新出現在螢光幕前，恐怕將取決於輿論與公司對其「贖罪與復出」的評估與時機。

Japanese entertainment circles were shaken by the arrest of Richard Keita Kusama, a 29-year-old member of the idol group “Aぇ！group”, which is managed by the rebranded former Johnny’s agency, now known as STARTO Entertainment. Kusama, who is of mixed heritage—his father is American and his mother is Japanese—was detained by Tokyo police on October 4th for public indecency, after reportedly exposing his genitals in public.

According to police reports, the incident took place around 5:40 a.m. near the entrance of a multi-story building in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-chome district, an area well-known as the center of Japan’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. A passerby noticed Kusama standing alone with his lower body exposed and immediately contacted the authorities. Officers arrived and arrested him on the spot for indecent exposure.

The building in question houses several gay establishments across its five floors, including a popular gay bar on the third floor and a “video box” with shower facilities on the fourth floor, known as a “development space” (ハッテン場) — venues where men can meet for sexual encounters. Locals familiar with the area told reporters that while unusual behavior is not uncommon there, Kusama’s actions were extreme enough to prompt someone to call the police, which is considered rare in that neighborhood.

Reports from Japanese media suggest that Kusama was severely intoxicated at the time of the incident and was unable to properly respond to police questioning. This was not his first alcohol-related controversy — colleagues had previously spoken about his frequent lateness and heavy drinking habits. Actor Daichi Imae, a former colleague, once joked on a radio show that Kusama was always late because of “certain late-night habits,” arriving with a “strange smell,” indirectly referring to his drinking issues.

Kusama spent two days in detention before being released. Following the incident, STARTO Entertainment issued a formal apology to fans and business partners, announcing that Kusama’s entertainment activities would be suspended indefinitely.

Television networks quickly responded by altering scheduled programming to remove or replace segments featuring Aぇ！group, and several brands that had endorsement deals with the group quietly erased their promotional materials from official websites.

The scandal has drawn wide attention in Japan, not only because it involves a rising idol from the new STARTO era, but also due to the shocking nature of the allegations — an incident of public indecency in one of Tokyo’s most well-known nightlife districts, committed by a performer once seen as part of the agency’s new beginning after the Johnny’s sexual abuse revelations.