Indictment dropped against Tokio singer over alleged indecent act

Strangerland, er, it was a figure of speech. We use them sometimes in the english language.

He will back on the TV by New Year.

So much sympathy across the nation for an alchoholic who sexually assaulted a school girl.

Compare and contrast with the Adam Johnson case in the UK. Six years in jail for the same crime. Money can get you a good solicitor, but can't buy you a get-out-of-jail ticket.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/24/adam-johnson-should-be-jailed-for-up-to-10-years-court-told

The difference is between equality of opportunity, and equality of outcome.

We should be striving for equality of opportunity - where the opportunity is the same for everyone, regardless of age, race, sex etc. This is fairness. The law as it stands is open to all - and therefore is equality of opportunity.

The converse is equality of outcome - which would be where a balanced number of people who actually take advantage of the law is the same across all backgrounds. So there would be an equal number of rich people as poor people who actually use the law.

But how does this work? Does the government pay the amount determined for the out-of-court settlement for the people who don't have enough? Is a limit placed on the number of rich people who are able to make out-of-court settlements? Something else? I can't think of any way you could come up with an equality of outcome, that wouldn't require biasing against at least one group.

The idea of equality of outcome is essentially what Communism is based around. It seems like a nice idea, but in the end, it doesn't work, due to the fundamental issues that come along with it.

The idea of equality of opportunity is essentially what Capitalism is based around. It's more in line with human motivations and behavior than Communism, though left entirely unregulated, comes with its own problems.

As with everything, the key is non-extremism. Maybe there needs to be a limit to the amount of money that is allowed to be paid in out-of-court settlements. Or maybe there are other limits that could be put out there that would keep equality of opportunity, while making it less biased against the little person. Discussion on this is a good thing.

But this is all very far from the original claim that there are two laws - which there are not.

I agree with your point but I think commenters are trying to point out Equality vs Equity (Justice).

No, the poster was trying to say there are two laws:

one law for the rich who can pay their way out of trouble and another for those who cant.

There is only one law.

And I get the point of the infographic - I grew up poor, I understand it as well as anyone. But having one law that some people are more able to use than others is not the same as having two laws, which was the claim made.

Thanks Suzanne. Hopefully that'll help strangerland understand.

Strangerland

I agree with your point but I think commenters are trying to point out Equality vs Equity (Justice). Here is a infographic:

https://tinyurl.com/y9jf7l4o

Justice in Japan. Doesn't matter that he committed a crime, so long as he pays off the victim. It should not be that easy.

Strangerland, there seems to be a disconnect. People who dont have the money tobuy their way out are disadvantagedunder your so-called one law.

Maybe, but that's a separate issue. The claim was that there are separate laws based on a person's class. I pointed out that there isn't a separate law - it's the same for all. If you want to get into your issue, it's likely that people who are rich/famous get demanded to pay a lot more money for an out-of-court settlement than those that are unknown and poorer. You could say they are disadvantaged in this way as well. And maybe it's true, but it's still irrelevant, as the point is there is one law and it applies to people irregardless of class/fame.

Strangerland, there seems to be a disconnect. People who dont have the money tobuy their way out are disadvantagedunder your so-called one law.

But please explain.

mother’s statement to the public certainly doesn’t give that impression

Did anyone consider her mother too may have been in on it? She's sure to take a large share of the money they've squeezed out of him. Tell you daughter to go to a rich mans home, tell her to kiss him- boom. Instantly rich.

if experience tells me anything, it’s that this idiot has done this, and much worse, in the past.

Wouldnt be surprised to see a few more girls come forward in the near future. Cosby style

strangerland , one law for the rich who can pay their way out of trouble and another for those who cant.

It appears you don't know how things work in Japan. There is only on e law, and itallows for people, rich or poor, to agree on out-of-court settlements in lieu of a trial (though there are limitations - you couldn't do this for murder).

Yes, very 'colorful'.

This makes no sense whatsoever, since you didn't know what you were talking about when trying to support the comment.

Well this was always going to happen wasn't it?

Shes gotten what she wanted out of him and ruined his career in the process. And yes, I bet she kissed him back

Only in Japan.

“Kissing? That's all? Really?

And she went to his apartment in the evening alone?

I wonder if she kissed him back.”

Ahahahaha—- Well said. She wanted to play big league. She was willing to enter the apartment. So naive.

He took a 16 year old girl back to his apartment and tried to get it on with her. He is a perverted lech and should be jailed. Paying off the victim and getting off free of charges does not send a very strong message to other perverts.

True it doesn't send a strong signal but this was privately arbitrated and all parties have agreed on closure in a civilized manner. His guilt is not in doubt and he will suffer significantly through work and socially for his grievous lack of judgment.

However, wanting to see him jailed and to suffer more hints at vindictiveness and spite, both very poor character traits and unbecoming of a modern society

What the girl needed in the first place? Why did she voluntarily enter his room? Artists are paid by using their time publicly. Killing time for what? Fortunately she was not given alcohol and drugs to dragged her for sex. " Girls respect yourselves."

Yeah yeah, should we also lynch him while we're at it?

Glad to hear cooler heads prevailed here and the matter is now resolved. Thankfully those that are triggered by this have no influence on how the system is run here and never will

OK, how much did Uncle Johnny pay this time?

strangerland , one law for the rich who can pay their way out of trouble and another for those who cant. Yes, very 'colorful'.

oh strangerland, it must be wonderful living in that black n white world.

It would seem to me that my answer it the colorful one, and those that are stuck in only one way that things should be done are living in a black and white world.

Disillusioned, Exactly.

@dcog9065 - This guy has been punished enough with his career in tatters,

He took a 16 year old girl back to his apartment and tried to get it on with her. He is a perverted lech and should be jailed. Paying off the victim and getting off free of charges does not send a very strong message to other perverts.

Good to hear this case was settled out of court in a civilized manner, unlike in the US where mass hysteria would have occurred.

This guy has been punished enough with his career in tatters, and good on the girl for withdrawing the complaint.

oh strangerland, it must be wonderful living in that black n white world.

I always read of these celebrities getting away with these crimes that regular people would be in a heap of trouble for!

Except that regular people have the option to come to an out-of-court settlement as well, and it happens all the time. You just don't read about it because they are regular people and not celebrities.

The fact that I can't even get out of a ticket for not coming to a rolling stop, but these guys get out of these charges shows that money talks.......

That's an apples and oranges comparison. Getting a ticket is a fine, it's not an incident between aggrieved parties. But if you really want to compare them - you CAN get yourself out of trouble with your ticket - by paying it. This guy got himself out of troubles, by (most likely) paying for it.

His money and status are the very reasons she found herself in his hotel room

Probably. But that has nothing to do with this comment you made:

Please tell me that money and status didn't trump Justice again in Japan.

His status has nothing to do with why he was able to come to an out of court settlement with the girl. All members of Japanese society have this option available to them.

Did anyone ever doubt this outcome? This is japan after all.

I always read of these celebrities getting away with these crimes that regular people would be in a heap of trouble for! This is the 2nd dropped case this week where a famous person committed a sexual act (unwanted groping and forced kissing) walked free. Of course they'd pay some monies and walk free and be back like nothing happened.The fact that I can't even get out of a ticket for not coming to a rolling stop, but these guys get out of these charges shows that money talks.......

I hope the young girl at the center of this wasn't forced into dropping the charges with the promise of money. And also, why is a 46 year old man inviting a kid to his room with alcohol in his system?

His money and status are the very reasons she found herself in his hotel room

"Status has nothing to do with it" ahahahahahahahaaaa.

Please tell me that money and status didn't trump Justice again in Japan.

Status has nothing to do with it. In Japan, conflicts can be resolved through out-of-court settlement between the parties. And there is no obligation by the aggrieved party to come to an out-of-court settlement, it's fully up to them. The one time I was involved in such a conflict, I refused the offer made to me, and the guy had to go through the court system (and was eventually found guilty).

I don't see how this is trumping justice - it's agreed upon by both parties, and often comes to a solution that is more satisfying to the aggrieved party in western nations where this isn't able to happen.

Kissing? That's all? Really?

And she went to his apartment in the evening alone?

I wonder if she kissed him back.

so he paid off the girl and thats good enough for the public prosecutor?

Oh, right. I forgot where this was for a second..

He’ll be back. No worries.

Oh my God say It Isn't so! Please tell me that money and status didn't trump Justice again in Japan. But since the charges were dropped, the all important conviction rate will not suffer, so the police are happy.