Japanese footballer Kaishu Sano released after arrest for sexual assault

Japanese soccer player Kaishu Sano has been released more than two weeks after his arrest on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman, his management company said.

However, it was unclear whether the proceedings against the 23-year-old, who recently signed with German first division club Mainz, had been dropped because of the alleged incident on July 14.

German media reports, citing anonymous sources, said that no charges would be brought against the footballer.

“I sincerely apologize to the victim for my actions which have caused great distress,” Sano said in his management company’s statement on Monday, the day of his release.

“I take the consequences of my actions seriously and will strive to restore trust,” he was quoted as saying.

Sano’s management company declined to provide any further information. The police were not immediately available for comment.

The defensive midfielder and two friends, also in their twenties, are said to have sexually harassed the woman in a Tokyo hotel, Japanese media reports said.

Police responded to a 911 call immediately after the alleged assault by the woman (reportedly in her thirties) and arrested the three near the hotel, reports said.

Sano, who played four times for Japan and was part of the squad at this year’s Asian Cup in Qatar, came to Mainz from Kashima Antlers at the beginning of the month.