2 arrested for forcing 14-year-old girl to swim naked in pond

Wikipedia says age of consent is 13 in Japan. Ugh.

So what? Spain's age is 13 too. You also ignore the part that even though 13 is in the penal code, virtually all prefectures have ordinances that prohibit sexual activities with any minor under 18.

Yeah gross what about 20 -40 is it still gross? DON'T THINK SO!

A pedophile force not his sexual victim to swim naked, that is the real story. How about charging the guy with sexual assault of a child.

wow this is just like in the manga Dengeki Daisy that i started reading recently. well the main character Kurosaki and Teru are also 8 years apart but if age difference is so disliked in Japan then why did this manga become really popular of its time? maybe because in the story the girl is 16 not 14 (bit older, yeah, but Kurosaki is 24 anyways). sorry i am not trying to connect fictional stuff with real life politic things, but most people here are arguing about the age difference, the guy has issues alright, but why is age difference becoming the main issue? maybe it would matter if both were older here? (like one 20 and the other 28), but it would still be "the girl was 10 when the guy finished up high school" like someone commented (but they said it was sick, why is it so?)

omg! ewwww this is soooo gross! 14? 22?? what the hell? glad shes alive and i hope they didnt do anything else to her @_@ this is gross i wish i could punch the guy and slap the girl (-- #)

WOW! another bad thinking generation produced by bad parents. I wonder what will become of Japan 20 years after with this kind of kids producing their kind in Japan society.

These stupid young girl most likely will end up getting pregnant sooner or later from some scum bag like this, but the so called father will run away and then she will find some other scum to live with her, most likely a scummy truck driver, then they will start to use their children as punching bags, etc...and what will ensue, you just fill in the blanks, XXXXXX of XXX age killed/abused etc..her child of XXX age in VVVVV town in Japan, and should any of us here following these stupid incidents be surprised?? Crappy families breed crappy kids, these kids if they are lucky grow up but their own offspring may not be too lucky, sine LAWS need to be changed in Japan ASAP!!!

Police believe that the two girls were friends, and that Okazaki’s girlfriend called the other girl to the park to accuse her of cheating with her boyfriend.

...Does anyone else see what's wrong with this sentence, or is it just me not understanding? She called the girl to the park to accuse her of cheating with Okazaki... instead of confronting Okazaki?

I don´t know why people are harping on about "pedophilia" here (which this is not, anyway). The article is about about a physical assault, and not about the age of the girlfriend(s).

I was physically able to reproduce at 14. Does that mean I was mentally and emotionally ready for that kind of relationship? No way. And neither are the vast majority of girls that age. That is why the law exists - to protect young girls from men who want to use them in this way.

The 8 year age gap would have nothing to do with it if she was 20 and he was 28, or whatever. At 14, this girl is in a completely different lifestage to a 22 year old, and she should be allowed to live it. The fact that she doesnt seem to want to suggests a lot of damage to me and that can only come from one place, so like tmarie I would very much like to know where these girls parents are and whether they actually give a crap about their daughters - because their pitifully low self-esteem suggests to me that they dont.

There are some 10 year old girls who can reproduce. Physical maturation isn't the same as mental and you'd be hard pressed to find a 14 year old in a western country who is mature enough to handle a relationship and what may go with it with a 22 year old, more so in this country.

The word minor is a legal term that varies greatly from country to country.

It does not vary in Japan. 14 is considered a minor and minor and child mean the same thing legally in Japan. I think you are the one that needs a dictionary, a legal one.

"End of debate" means you were, and still are, wrong.

14 is a child in Japan. End of debate.

So 14 year olds cannot cannot reproduce in Japan? Odd. Most countries, they can.

14 is a minor in Japan, not a child. The word child has no strict definition. The word minor is a legal term that varies greatly from country to country.

Not only the words minor and child, but I also wonder if you know what "end of debate" means? Anyone with a dictionary could figure this all out in minutes.

Of course I can.

Then, there should be no "buts". 14 is a child in Japan. End of debate.

you cannot see it is particularly cruel to hurt or abuse a child?

Of course I can. But first off, the only abuse mentioned is beating up the girl, making her strip and making her swim in the pond. Second, 14 is a teenager, not a child. Yes, I know that some people consider even college students to still be children. Kind of funny that they are not saying that this time. Not expecting consistency any more than clear thinking.

Ted,

Of course hurting or abusing anyone is wrong. However, you cannot see it is particularly cruel to hurt or abuse a child?

I know when I was 14 I hated the older guys coming to the party for a one nighter with girls I had loved since kindergarten.

Aqualung, I hated them the same as I hated the guys my own age getting those girls. But the girls didn't hate them. So it must be jealousy talking to call them predators.

he's eight years older than her.

sfjp330, I am confused. Is it because he was 8 years older, because she was 14, or because the laws of some countries forbid the relationship? Not expecting a coherent answer though, because clear thinking always goes out the window when a discussion like this comes up. Could it be the same jealousy mentioned above?

I would not want this guy dating my daughter at any age. If he was 14 and violently assaulting a 14 year old girl and making her strip and swim, would it make one iota of difference in how I feel about him? Absolutely not. Its not a question of age. Its a question of being a cruel and mental individual, same with his girlfriend. Who here would have even thought twice about doing this to anyone at 14, let alone 22?

HimajinJUN. 02, 2012 - 04:39AM JST

You missed my points completely, Franchesca.

Unless the person in question is interested in prepubescent individuals, they are not a pedophile. People spout the word all the time, in any case a man has an interest in someone under 20, but it is incorrect. It may be statutory rape under the law (depending on ages etc) but it is not pedophilia. 2, The girl has some responsibility in this as well.

Thank you for your respectful reply..(kinda rare in this website..)

I get your point, trust me..but where I come from, folks would lynch me alive if I look twice at anyone under 18. Society is way beyond complicated and there is such a thin line between right and wrong..you know?

That said, I would feel completely repulsed to even think about having a relationship with a minor. In fact I never liked men my age to tell you the truth. I had a strong preference for older guys. At the end, I married someone 10 years my senior and still I think he's not old enough! yikes..

One or both of the dads need to teach the guy some good old act-right. 22-14 is predator behavior in my opinion ( except in cultures with arranged marriages). I know when I was 14 I hated the older guys coming to the party for a one nighter with girls I had loved since kindergarten.

Himajin, I agree that the girl has responsibility as well but if anyone has more, it is her parents and the guy. What kind of messed up family does she come from where she needs the attention of a 22 year old when she's 14? The only girls I knew at that age who dated guys that old had serious family problems and knew what they were doing was not good. Attention seeking at best. The guys who date girls at such ages also have issues - usually with authority and power. This is not the same as a 45 year old guy dating someone who is 25 and an adult.

Himajin Jun. 02, 2012 - 04:39AM JST. The girl has some responsibility in this as well.

No. I don't know what his inclinations was, but I'd be extremely careful if I was him. Any guy who meets an attractive young thing, then finds out she's underage generally puts the brakes on any physical contact or "what if", "when we do this" kind of talk. In the beginning, it's entirely possible he was completely safe and she was not at any risk of harm from him, but on the other side of the coin . . . he's eight years older than her. He should've immediately put a 10-foot pole (a real one) between the two of them and forbid any physical contact of any kind. He needed to put some distance between the two of you right away. This guy was a real dumb guy.

You missed my points completely, Franchesca.

Unless the person in question is interested in prepubescent individuals, they are not a pedophile. People spout the word all the time, in any case a man has an interest in someone under 20, but it is incorrect. It may be statutory rape under the law (depending on ages etc) but it is not pedophilia.

2, The girl has some responsibility in this as well.

At least the victim is alive. It sounds like this could have gone very wrong very quickly.

HimajinJUN. 01, 2012 - 12:27PM JST

I'm getting a little sick of the overuses of the word 'pedophile' and the phrase applied to teenagers. A minor is a minor, but a 14, 15, or 16-year-old is not a child. 'pedophilia' is interest in prepubescent children, which a 14-year-old definitely is not. Have you all really forgotten being 14? The girl has no responsibility? She's dating a man 6 years older, I'd assume in defiance of her parents and their house rules. She's pure as the driven snow, and only he's a creep?

I wonder what would people tell me if I tell them I married a 16 year old and gave him a few kids... Do you think there's nothing wrong if a woman in her 20's~30's decides to date/marry a teenager? I mean if older men can date young women...

No idea why I got a thumbs down for basing a comment on stats!

@ Christina O'neill Did you read what I wrote? Children of that age are depicted as not only cute objects but also sexual ones too through manga and porn, etc... all created by Japanese people. I do not excuse his behavior nor condone it but you cannot deny that some girls that age are much more mature for their own good or at least think they are. Boys too for that matter. They are exposed to that certain life everyday... through the media like television and magazines in convinis... to what they hear from their peers and seniors. If the girl in this story can understand what dating is about and also accuse another girl of cheating with her 22yo bf then she is obviously mature beyond her age. I am hoping she is just a bimbo hoping to gain social status by dating an older guy. She could be naive but if so, she wouldn't be that dumb to let an older guy stoop her into dating him. Yes, this dude is a pedo and should know better but how did he get that way? Was he born that way or was he too influenced by all the stuff everyone is exposed to. This is the tip of the ice berg and the deeper you dig you will find that unfortunately in this country there is allot more than just older guys wanting to date underage girls. I wont mention it here but I am sure a few seasoned expats living here could shed some light on the subject for you. Nothing you would ever hear about from a local.

Statutory rape, sexual assault of a minor, corruption of a minor, etc. in Kanagawa Prefecture where this incident occurred are defined as sexual acts with a minor younger than 18. Maximum sentence is a prison term up to 2 years or a fine up to 1 million Yen.

Serrano, I doubt it. Based on stats in Japan, mom is a housewife and you and I are paying for her health care and pension. Dad perhaps is busting his balls but mom? Doubt it.

"Where are the parents?"

Probably busting their butts to earn enough money for the girls' clothes, education, etc.

How dumb is the girlfriend? Freaks out because she thinks her boyfriend cheated on her with the victim but then gets the girl to go naked in front of him? The guy really doesn't seem to be "clever" in that nasty, devious way.

Where are the parents of both of these girls??

"Police believe that the two girls were friends, and that Okazaki's girlfriend called the other girl to the park to accuse her of cheating with her boyfriend"

It's obviously all this other girl's fault! If she had any morals at all, she would never have had sex with her friend's boyfriend, lol.

Of course the guy wanted a physical relationship with her. You think he'll wait until the legal age before he tries it on? Why else would he be dating a little girl. Not even in senior high school... junior high school. Are we saying that a 14 year old girl is old enough to handle complex sexual and romantic emotions and feelings?

Either way, the girlfriend is a vindictive little creature and the lad just disgusts me.

We all read the article written ... what bothers me .. we will never know what truly happened to the 22-year-old nor the 14-year-old again. Would be nice to have a follow up story at one point in time, but doubt that will happen. Will justice prevail?

Juvenile detention and prison for the both of them.

Think I'm gonna throw up!

Sick. Especially the male. Can't say he's a man, and he's no longer a boy. Sounds like there was some Assault committed. That makes it criminal behavior.

At 14, she already know how to 'protect her own territory'.. wow! .

The man would be up on so many charges in the UK, and placed on the sex offenders register.

The girls are 14... children. This guy really needs locking up and the girlfriend, little witch, needs to go to a young offenders institution.

I've heard of a couple of bullying stories like this in the UK before, normally caught on mobile video and uploaded to the internet.

This pair really need punished.

22-year-old man and his 14-year-old girlfriend

WTF! Guy needs to be in jail, two girlfriends under the legal age.

If the age of consent is indeed 13 or 14, but you don't get to be an adult till you're 20, that has to be one of the widest discrepancies going. In most countries "15 will get you 20" - but you're an adult at 18. Not sure what that says about Japan, or even where I'm going with this. Lock em both up anyway.

The article says nothing about SEX.

If this idiot forces one 14 year old girl to strip naked and swim in a pond at a public place, what makes you think that he is not banging the other. Is it this hard to put 2 and 2 together?

Make both of these misfits do community service cleaning toilets together for the summer, and make little miss victim take some martial arts classes in self-defense.

Pathetic, all the way around.

As an aside and, again, assuming Wikipedia is trustworthy, Art. 177 Penal Code defines sex crimes referring to them as sex with a female person. So if a male gets raped he has no legal way to defend himself? Has anyone read these articles in their original in the PC? Is this another symptom of that There's No Such Thing As Homosexuality in Japan thing or am i lost in translation?

To those focusing on the ages in the story, the law makes that a mute point - as has been indicated by those quoting Wiki, etc. That is unless prefectural law takes precedence in this. But in general, this is Dodge. If you don't like it..

therefore, there is no rape (unless the local prefecture has a higher age).

Even then, there still is no rape. Japanese law does not call it anything near rape. According to Japanese law, its a violation of some legalized moral code on wholesomeness, and that's it. But judges have deemed such relationship to not be immoral in the past. And judges do that if the pair are serious. Go ahead and beat your head on the table. Its not going to change.

Well it seems he likes em fresh...

Well, say something, don't be lazy! If you take the trouble to down vote, say something. I'm not afraid to post my opinion...

Before you post, though, do look up 'pedophile' in the dictionary so we can have an informed discussion. No matter how reprehensible the age difference might be, a man who is with a 14-year-old is not, by definition, a pedophile.

It would seem 14 is legal to DATE.

The article says nothing about SEX. Funny that some see it first thing anyway, as if its etched on the backs of their pupils!

If 14 is legal, then the title is misleading. Her age would then have nothing to do with it.

The problem is beating another person up and forcing her to swim naked in a pond.

I'm getting a little sick of the overuses of the word 'pedophile' and the phrase applied to teenagers. A minor is a minor, but a 14, 15, or 16-year-old is not a child. 'pedophilia' is interest in prepubescent children, which a 14-year-old definitely is not. Have you all really forgotten being 14? The girl has no responsibility? She's dating a man 6 years older, I'd assume in defiance of her parents and their house rules. She's pure as the driven snow, and only he's a creep?

showmethemoney is at -26!?!? That has got to be a site record lol!

It sadly shows that at least 26 people couldn't justify their opinions.

That is just low.... allowing him to being used as muscle by one 14-year old girl to beat up another 14-year old girl.... what a creep.

showmethemoney is at -26!?!? That has got to be a site record lol!

a 22 year old dude who dates a 14 year old girl and tramatizes another young girl is a good candidate for a midnight disappearance.

You are assuming they are sleeping together. That has not been established in this stroy.

This isn't an elementary school boy. The guy is 21 years old. I think we can assume that he had sex with at least one of the two girls, otherwise this incident wouldn't have occurred.

@Fadamor

If 14 is above the age of consent in Japan, as the always reliable Wikipedia indicates, then who are westerners to come along on their high horses to say this is wrong?

Didn't bring an altitude-endowed horse, but I can answer your question. IT IS WRONG to batter someone REGARDLESS OF AGE and force them to strip naked under threat of more battery. GET IT? UNDERSTAND? 分かりましたか?

ribstick was commenting on the age difference between the couple.

You are - in a very rude manner if i may - commenting on the couple forcing the girl to swim naked.

Different subjects on the same story. Get it?

Police believe that the two girls were friends

I think this is an exaggeration.

Did you not see the sentence I wrote after about his actions?

Yes I did, and there's a WORLD of difference between "not cool" (your words) and "wrong" (the words of "Westerners on their high horses" that you apparently have a problem with.) You appear to have a severe deficiency in understanding the difference between "not cool" and "wrong". What this guy and his girlfriend did was WRONG. The level of coolness has nothing to do with it.

Statutory rape, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor (just to name a few)....hello? J Police? Anyone home

You've got it right. This simple story has more legal issues here. He is a sex offender, period.

Fadamor, such venom in your reply. Did you not see the sentence I wrote after about his actions? 見ましたか？理解できなかった？

Anyway, I'd like to know if the guy knew this girl, or was it like, "Hey, join my harem of 14-year olds or I'll beat the crap out of you...No? Well then I'll beat crap out of you."

If she wants to date an older guy like that its her problem. But I doubt that dude was bragging to his pals about his buds about his young girlfriend..... well, unless they are AKB48 fans then maybe he is.

If 14 is above the age of consent in Japan, as the always reliable Wikipedia indicates, then who are westerners to come along on their high horses to say this is wrong?

Didn't bring an altitude-endowed horse, but I can answer your question. IT IS WRONG to batter someone REGARDLESS OF AGE and force them to strip naked under threat of more battery. GET IT? UNDERSTAND? 分かりましたか?

ci400 are you serious? 14 years old as far as I am concerned is a child, are you trying to excuse the deplorable behaviuor of a 22 year old man, on the fact that you consider children consider themselves as cute sexual objects?

I think Kanagawa the age is 18. Prefectural law trumps national law in this case.

If 14 is above the age of consent in Japan, as the always reliable Wikipedia indicates, then who are westerners to come along on their high horses to say this is wrong? Still, what the dude did was not cool.

Maybe he was paying for the relationship as many men do with younger girls. Young girls are way too aware of how to use their gender, body, cuteness, etc to reel guys in too. Very unfortunate for the young victim in this story too. Hopefully he will be made an example of and get a harsh punishment and psychiatric help.

Just 4 years ago his “girlfriend” was 10 when he was finishing up high school. That's makes it even more sick to think about.

When I finished high school, my girlfriend was 3. ;-) But I am much, much older now...

Wikipedia says age of consent is 13 in Japan. Ugh.

That's true, but most districts in Japan have their own which overrides. I think Tokyo is 18.

Statutory rape, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor (just to name a few)....hello? J Police? Anyone home?

You are assuming they are sleeping together. That has not been established in this stroy.

If Wikipedia can be trusted, as inverse already pointed out the age of consent is 13; therefore, there is no rape (unless the local prefecture has a higher age).

Most of the comments seem to be from foreign nationals, based on their cultural values. I'd be more interested to know the opinion of the average japanese (men and women) on this.

Age isn't everything, i've talked with 16yo women and 20yo's with the mentality of a 6yo. I've seen some 14yo's on the street... after first thinking they were 20. It's never an easy matter to discuss, unless you're an armchair poster of course.

Some friend, some man friend, violent, nasty and disgusting behaviour towards a 14 year ol girl

Wow... you're 22 and your girl is a 14 y/o Junior High School student...LOL what a scum bag!

Wikipedia says age of consent is 13 in Japan. Ugh.

Enlighten me please; what's the legal minimum age in this country?

@Mirai I know right. I can't help but imagine these girls have blond hair and heavy make-up. I think they are called "Garu" Anyway, this is an easy case. The only problem is this guy will continue to go free. He'd be labelled a sex offender in the U.S. placed on a constant watch list.

You know this guy will do it again.

I can't understand why older guys want underage girls. Power trip? At 14 they don't know what to do with themselves.

I hope the pedophile boyfriend should do some serious jail time, not just for assaulting the poor girl, but also for being a pedophile. His girlfriend should be required to do some serious psychiatric evaluation for her violent and malicious tendencies, though I wouldn't be too surprised if she only did it to impress her sicko boyfriend. At that age, most teenage girls go a little boy crazy.

22yr old guy...14yr old girlfriend...I am assuming that given the 14yr old accused her boyfriend and her 14yr old friend of "cheating with her boyfriend", there will also be a slew of charges as mentioned by Mirai Hayashi above. Who on earth can possibly think that a 22yr old dating a 14yr old is normal????

Statutory rape, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor (just to name a few)....hello? J Police? Anyone home?

Just 4 years ago his “girlfriend” was 10 when he was finishing up high school. That's makes it even more sick to think about.

@showmethemoney. No parent would be happy for their 14yr old daughter to be dating a 22yr old. Goes without saying.

I say call his classmates, make him swim naked in the pond, then put him in stocks in the public square for the day.Oh, yeah, and slap him around a bit, and make him wear a sandwich board saying "I'm a loser". And the girls should be grounded for the next 5 years. He's a total punk.

Yes, I'm barbaric.

Absolutely illegal to try to date a 14 year old as a 22 yo where I come from. He would be getting charged for a range of offenses for that little stunt.

Ewan Huzarmy

I couldn't agree more Cletus, but what is a nuff nuff , is it the same as a 'stoat-the-baw' ?

Nope its a polite term for something else. But l like your saying works equally as good

I couldn't agree more Cletus, but what is a nuff nuff , is it the same as a 'stoat-the-baw' ?

Well said Cletus.

I think the boyfriend needs some serious mental health as do posters who think its ok for a 22yo to be in a relationship with a 14yo. That is seriously sick and twisted not to mention would land you in hot water in many other places. I think the guy is a bit of a loser who cant get anyone his own age therefore has to have a relationship with a kid. Anything is possible with a nuff nuff like this.

Dangerously deranged and jealous teen-age tart & chavtastic paedo boyfriend, should spend some time behind bars methinks.

sillygirl, what a strange thing to say. You overlook the fact that he helped beat up a 14 year old girl and force her to strip and swim in a pond (at night I think, which is even more dangerous) and instead harp on his Romeo and Juliet style relationship?

You also overlook the strong possibility that he was sleeping with both, but made it the fault of one of the girls and punished her for it.

I think the guy is nutty as a fruitcake, but the age of his girlfriend is at the lower end of the proof. I had a friend in a similar relationship, maybe one year of difference to this case. Last I heard, they were married. No violence. No humiliations. Just love.

22 year old man and his 14 year old girlfriend - that about sums up what is wrong with this guy.