Japanese Idol Au Amai Goes on Hiatus After Being Victim of Groping on Train
Japanese idol Au Amai, a member of the group AQA, is temporarily stepping away from activities after becoming a victim of chikan on a train in Japan.
The incident happened on September 12, 2026, when Au was traveling to a venue where the group was scheduled to perform. According to AQA’s management, the suspect has already been arrested, and legal proceedings with the Japanese authorities are underway.
The incident, however, left the idol deeply shaken. In a message to her fans, Au revealed that she is currently staying at her mother’s home and is still afraid to go outside.
What Happened to the AQA Idol?
According to the statement released by AQA, Au Amai was the victim of chikan — a Japanese term used to describe acts of sexual harassment, particularly those committed against people in public places such as trains.
The incident happened while she was traveling by train to a live house, where she was scheduled to perform with the group.
Management reported that:
- Au Amai was harassed on September 12;
- she suffered psychological distress following the incident;
- as a result, she will be taking an indefinite break from activities;
- the suspect has already been arrested;
- police and legal proceedings are ongoing;
- the agency says it is working with its lawyer and providing support to the idol.
AQA also stated that there is currently no timetable for her return..
She Had Already Missed the Show That Day
One detail that stood out is that Au’s absence happened on the very same day as the incident.
At first, the team told fans that the idol would not be able to perform because of a “sudden family matter.” It was later revealed that the actual reason was connected to the incident on the train.
AQA had performances scheduled that day, including LEADING DAY at Zephyr Hall and RAD iD LIVE at RAD NINE.
The sudden change explains why fans initially received only a rather vague explanation.
Au Amai Reveals She Is Still Afraid to Leave Home
Following the management statement, Au Amai also decided to speak directly to her fans.
The idol apologized for taking so long to explain what had happened and said that she did not even know when she would be able to return to activities.
She explained that although she has no physical injuries, she is still emotionally shaken and is staying at home with her mother.
“I’m still afraid to go outside, so I’m spending this time at home with my mother.”
Au also made it clear that she wants to return to the stage when she is able to.
She said she wants to see her fans again as her usual self and return to doing what she considers important: bringing joy to the people who support her.
“Please Don’t Forget Me While You Wait”
Perhaps the saddest part of her message was the request she made to her fans.
Au thanked the fans who continue to stand by her and said they are important to helping her keep moving forward. She also asked those who had purchased tickets or were planning to meet her to not forget about her.
The idol wrote that she wants her fans to wait for her and protect her place within the group.
She also apologized to the other AQA members, Yui-chun, Miru-miru, and Non-tan, for leaving the three of them during such a difficult period.
Read More: Despite everything, her message does not suggest that she is leaving AQA. Quite the opposite: Au repeatedly talks about her desire to return and see her fans again.
Who Is Au Amai and What Is AQA?
AQA is a female idol group from Nagoya, Japan, described as an ōdō-kei group — a style that is roughly associated with a more traditional Japanese idol-group concept.
The group uses the concept of “infinite potential and transparency like the absence of color” and performs live in the region.
Au Amai is one of its members and is presented as the group’s “sweet green” member.
It is worth mentioning that Au Amai is a relatively small-scale idol, with only around 4,000 followers on Twitter, while the AQA account has around 6,000 followers. Even though the group is small, however, some of its videos have attracted a solid audience.