A newscaster on NHK's "Good Morning Japan" was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly assaulting a woman on a street in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.
Toru Takahashi, 41, was arrested for indecent assault at around 10 p.m. after he allegedly pressed himself against the woman and touched her breast. Takahashi said he hardly remembers what he was doing because he was drunk, according to the public broadcaster.
According to police, Takahashi grabbed the woman, in her 20s, from behind on the street, causing them both to fall to the ground. The woman called to passersby for help and when police arrived they pursued Takahashi about 100 meters before catching him.
The woman was unhurt.
Takahashi had taken the day off work Tuesday and had been drinking with friends in Shibuya. He was so drunk he was staggering as he tried to run away, police said.
Takahashi joined NHK in 1991. Prior to joining the morning news program in Tokyo, he worked for NHK's bureaus in Oita and Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.
"It is quite regrettable and we deeply apologize that a member of our staff has been arrested," NHK's public relations department said.
