Hokkaido Prefectural Police have arrested a 36-year-old member of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on suspicion of violating the child prostitution and pornography law last year.
Police said Shuya Sakamoto, who was arrested on Tuesday, has denied the charge and that he has only said “I don’t know,” Hokkaido Broadcasting Corp reported.
According to the warrant, Sakamoto, who lives in Chitose City, allegedly promised to pay tens of thousands of yen in cash to the then-15-year-old girl for sex. Police said Sakamoto became acquainted with the girl on a social networking site and that they arranged to meet at a hotel in Otaru on October 15, 2022.
The girl’s parents consulted with police after they discovered a large amount of money in her possession.
Surveillance footage from the hotel showed Sakamoto and the girl check in into the hotel.
© Japan Today
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sir_bentley28
Another case where a sex offender list could've been helpful! All the police have to do is search his house for the same clothes he was wearing in the surveilence video, get confirmation from the hotel staff that this guy was wearng these clothing on this day and wham, bam, thank you ma'am! A closed case! One mopre sick and disgusting peadeophile out of the public.
sir_bentley28
Also, not victim blaming, but why didn't she tell her parents or someone when the idea of meeting for sex/money was explained?
Daninthepan
You are victim blaming. It is likely she wanted to keep the money and consensually went through with the agreement. However, we as a progressive modern society don't consider a 15-year-old's brain to have developed and been hardened enough through experience to make the right decisions. We rely on adults to behave appropriately and not take advantage of naivety. Those that do must be punished accordingly.
Her not informing her parents is entirely irrelevant and offers nothing to the story other than "Yeah, but she's a naughty girl as well". Congratulations - victim blaming.
Strangerland
As daninthepan has stated, society has decided that 15 year olds are unable to consent; therefore adults sleeping with minors is sexual assault, whether the minor consents or not. For any posters who have a problem with this, do you think that means that any age should be able to consent? Or should there be a lower limit, say five years old? Ten? Twelve? If you feel there should be a lower limit, why should that lower limit be used instead of the current 18 years old?
John
They should change the age in japan. Japan is different than other countries. It’s japanese culture. And the girl has probably as much as experience as a 30 year old women in other countries. What if he was 17, would it be ok then? It’s not same as other countries where these law makes sense for the way of life. Japan first should change its culture, tradition and develop proper family life at the basis. With all the wrong things within family lives and child sexualisation, men seems like victim of being raised in wrong culture.
Strangerland
How low should they go? Ten years old? Eight? Five? Two? No age at all?
Numan
This should be an open and shut case! Someone should be receiving a dishonorable discharge in addition to jail time!
girl_in_tokyo
JohnToday 10:28 am JST
You are saying pedophilia is part of Japanese culture?
I think the vast majority of Japanese people would be offended and angered by that suggestion.
She is FIFTEEN. This is a ridiculous and utterly offensive suggestion.
A two-year age gap is a lot more understandable and far more acceptable.
I can't figure out if you are a troll or if you are serious. You are saying all these incredibly insulting things about Japanese culture that no Japanese person would agree with. This post really should just be deleted.
WilliB
Bad judgement on his part if he know she was only 15, but "child prostitution"? Get real. Historically, and even today in many societies, girls can get married even younger than that.
Strangerland
So how young should be allowed?
I notice you guys never want to talk about that.