crime

Man held for allegedly sexually assaulting 8-year-old girl

26 Comments

Police said Wednesday that they have arrested a man for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl. According to police, on the afternoon of March 26, the suspect, identified as Shunya Umekawa, 46, took the girl from a park to a hotel in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward where he is alleged to have continuously touched her body.

The girl's parents notified the police immediately when they noticed that their daughter carried a comic upon returning home, which she told them was a present from a stranger. Police said that the girl told them Umekawa had touched her body on several occasions after the two became acquainted in a park some time ago.

Umekawa admits to taking the girl to the hotel, but denies touching her.

© Compiled from news reports

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

26 Comments
Login to comment

do not let your kids play alone in the park! they got lucky because of the comic book.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

flechettes, this happened several times according to the girl and I think there must have been more to it than just waiting to get one comic book. She did not run away the second time he came along, or the third apparently.

The article says they became acquainted some time ago. So I should think he is something more than a stranger or mere acquaintance by now. I think we can say he was a friend of hers, though many would say he was not a very good one.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I blame the parents for this one, there is no way this could have happened if they just kept an eye on their 8 year old.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There is no way unfortunately that you can keep an 8 year old child locked up at home, and never let them go to the park BUT - every child that age I know of never goes to the park by themselves, except for one that I heard of - a friend of a friend`s daughter - and guess what happened to her.

I don`t think the parents are to blame, that sits squarely with Umekawa himself. What I DO think though, is that the parents obviously never taught their daughter about stranger danger, respect for herself and her body, and let her go out by herself without friends.

Sadly, everyone here is still under the impression that Japan is totally safe. It may actually be a lot safer than many other places, but these things do still happen. My friend lost her son in the supermarket recently, and while she was panicking and trying to find him (hes 3) a woman patted her arm and said "Dont worry, this is Japan!" My friend nearly punched her!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

obviously never taught their daughter about stranger danger

I don't think you even know what you are saying. Stranger danger is a complete fallacy. Responsible parents teach their children to be wary of strangers. Misinformed paranoid parents teach their children stranger danger.

respect for herself and her body

I am not even sure what you want to say there. As children many of us did more than what is hinted at in the article, with the exceptions of going to a hotel and an adult being involved. Maybe that is what you want to say? If so, this respect for self and body stuff is definitely the wrong message.

Sadly, everyone here is still under the impression that Japan is totally safe.

Never have I ever heard anyone say that Japan is "totally" safe. Very safe, relatively safe, etc., yes. And it is. This girl met this man several times and went home every time obviously not even crying. The last time I heard of a grown man with a little girl somewhere else was yesterday, and that girl is dead. See what I mean?

My friend nearly punched her!

As would many foreigners but not Japanese. Japanese don't tend toward violence or glorify it or even suggest it like so many foreigners do. See what I mean? Its a big reason Japan is relatively safe. Violence is frowned upon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Homerun:

"Stranger Danger" is a catchphrase taught in many UK primary schools. It means being wary of strangers. Same thing you are saying. I just used the catchphrase, thats all. I didnt mean to imply every stranger is dangerous.

As for the rest of your nitpicking of my comments - to be honest, I can`t even be bothered to defend them, but I am sure anyone else with half a brain can understand what I was meaning.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can see this pedophile planning this way in advance: First, hang around the playground and become a familiar face. Then make a few friendly comments but nothing more, just to gain trust. Then...

But what the hell were the hotel staff doing? Why didn't they call the police?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Edit: Alleged pedophile

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Homerun2:

I don't think you even know what you are saying. Stranger danger is a complete fallacy. Responsible parents teach their children to be wary of strangers. Misinformed paranoid parents teach their children stranger danger.

My head hurts trying to understand what you are saying. Here on planet Earth, danger causes one to be wary.

As a father of a 9-year-old girl, I agree with miamum 100%. Respecting her body is important, although I don't want her to turn out to be prudish with affection like many of her Japanese friends. Her friends never seem to hug their own parents.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can see this pedophile planning this way in advance:

Me too. Every adult male does such things like this to gain trust, no matter if the target is adult or child. I don't know, maybe you are a master pick-up artist who can get a date in five minutes flat? Building trust is not sinister in itself and not against the law either. What would be against the law is sexual relations with a minor, and that is all you should be concerned about here. The only thing I see that is really non-standard is the age of the girl. Gaining trust, going places, giving gifts...that is just standard dating.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sick. Girl is lucky she was not raped.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Horrified - its a difficult balance, isnt it? Daughters are such a worry compared to the boys! Although, I worry about my boys for different reasons I suppose.

I want my daughter to have respect for herself and I think that starts from the very beginning, and will hopefully stand her in good stead when she is older. I have also tried to teach her that just because someone is in a position of authority (e.g. an adult) doesnt mean they have any power over her and she should always question anything that doesnt feel or seem "right" - in ANY situation, not just one such as this.

On the other hand, I agree I don`t want her to be prudish either. My husband and I are very affectionate with the kids, and with each other in front of them (by that I mean hugging and lightly kissing on the cheek, nothing more before I get pounced on again!!!) and I hope that is teaching her by example how she should expect to be treated when she is older. I get such a kick out of seeing her cuddled up with her Daddy reading a story or watching TV together!

It is so difficult to raise children well, and by avoiding the mistakes we think our parents made with us, I think we wind up making our own mistakes, but we do it to the best of our ability.

Building trust is not sinister in itself

It is when the man in question is 46 and not known to the family, and the girl is 8 years old. I don`t know of any parents who would be happy knowing their 8 year old was being given presents, and being taken places by a 46 year old man she met in the park unknown to her parents, even if nothing illegal is taking place.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If it was a love hotel, then the front desk person would not necessarily get to see the little girl.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Umekawa admits to taking the girl to the hotel, but denies touching her."

He just wanted to look at her, that's all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Unfortunately weird stuff like this happens and the panic button gets hit. It's sad that this girl was allegedly touched by an alleged pedophile (who should be - if convicted - beaten to a pulp then locked away). But it's also sad that we think every park is a dangerous place for kids to hang around.

It's not like there are anymore dangers now then say 20 or 30 years ago. But boy does the panic spread faster!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Gaining trust, going places, giving gifts...that is just standard dating.

@Homerun2 - perhaps you could clarify if you mean dating between an adult and a child or dating between two adults.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Homerun2

As children many of us did more than what is hinted at in the article, with the exceptions of going to a hotel and an adult being involved. Maybe that is what you want to say? If so, this respect for self and body stuff is definitely the wrong message.

You seem to have some issues of your own here and are seemingly trying to make out like nothing creepy and horrible happened in this case. The whole article is about an 8 year old girl going to a hotel with a 46 year old man she met in a park. There is no "with the exception of". That is what the story is about. The fact that you are trying to defend this guy and make light of this situation is quite disgusting to me. Do you feel like "stranger danger" refers to you or something? Do you take it personally?

Also, how could respect for one's body and one's self be a wrong message ever?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The article says they became acquainted some time ago. So I should think he is something more than a stranger or mere acquaintance by now. I think we can say he was a friend of hers

@Homerun2 - A 46-year old stranger makes approaches to an 8-year old girl. Why do you think you can say he was a friend of hers?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The article says he took the girl to a hotel and "continuously touched her body".

He needs to be in general population at San Quentin. That will teach him that "touching" is wrong. Maybe he'll get to get acquainted with the Tossed Salad Man.

This guy needs to go away.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People that do sick stuff like this to children should be castrated.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am not sure if this girl is just plain stupid?? Too stupid to understand that it is WRONG to go with any stranger, to a HOTEL, what the hell was this kid thinking? My daughter cries even when my friends (guys) come over to visit my house. Most little girls have a built in system in their brains to be afraid of strangers (99.9999% MEN) so this news makes no sense, somebody here is not telling the truth.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

so wrong! for those that defend this creep, don't! if it was your little girl, I'm betting you'd be mad as hell.

I too will teach my little girl to be wary of strangers. that's so basic & essential. a young girl having a "friendship" with a 46yo man (parents unaware) is so inappropriate.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Homerun2, elbudamexicano

The girl is 8, not stupid, and definitely not aware of predatory behavior. Taking a kid that is not your own to a hotel without permission of the parents is totally socially unacceptable. Do you understand the mentality of an 8 year-old?

For your sake, I hope not, because what you're saying/ thinking is unacceptable.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think they should start putting up "pedobear" posters to educate young kids about such dangers. Joking aside, as a father this sort of news REALLY worries me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Some kids are more naive then others even went they have been educated to keep away from strangers. The article doesn't explain much detail. Was it a child with mental disabilities? Why wasn't there parental supervision at the park? Was she with other kids at the park? Where were her parents? Like many things in Japan, ppl only seem to notice after the fact. Really pathetic isn't it!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

oH GOD! lesson 1 dont talk to strangers lesson 2 dont trust the stranger lesson 3 dont go to the stanger.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites