Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya (26) caused an accident while driving on Friday afternoon, hitting a 36-year-old woman on a bicycle and causing minor injuries. The same day, Arashi revealed that they will release a new album and launch a tour later this year.

At about half past noon on Friday, Ninomiya was driving in Tokyo's Meguro ward. As he approached an intersection with no traffic lights, a woman riding a bicycle came from the side, and Ninomiya's car bumped the side of her bicycle. Although Ninomiya was unharmed, the woman suffered an injury in her left leg that will take about a week to fully heal.

Johnny's Jimusho stated that Ninomiya had the day off, though he was driving on his way to a work-related meeting.

Police are currently investigating the matter. Meanwhile, Johnny's has reminded its other artists to drive carefully. Because of this accident and Jun Matsumoto's accident in February, the agency has decided to prohibit all five Arashi members from driving until the end of this year. This is apparently the first time that the company has enforced a driving ban for all members of a specific group.

The accident happened the same day that the group announced a new album, its first in over two years. Titled "Boku no Miteiru Fuukei," the album is scheduled for an August 4 release. It will at least include their four latest singles, ten new songs, and five solo songs.

In addition to the album, Arashi will go on tour from August 21 until January of next year. Like their tour last year, they plan to perform at the National Stadium and the five major Domes. During that tour, they became the first artist to play three consecutive days at the National Stadium. This time, their shows at the stadium won't be consecutive, but they will be the first to hold 4 concerts there in the same tour.

from : tokyograph