Renowned Osaka University Professor Questioned for Alleged Secret Photography Under Women’s Skirts

“There’s a man peeping under women’s skirts from under the pedestrian bridge.”

The police received a 110 emergency call around 3 p.m. on June 5th. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a suspicious man carrying a shoulder bag. Upon questioning and inspecting the man’s smartphone, they discovered videos of women’s skirts being secretly filmed.

On June 5th, the Shinagawa Police Station in Tokyo arrested Yasushi Makihara (46), who resides in Osaka, on suspicion of violating the Act on Punishment of Acts related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (filming). Makihara is a professor at the Graduate School for Creative Cities, Osaka University. When our magazine’s photographer captured Makihara’s arrest, he appeared visibly distraught, lowering his head in dismay.

“The scene of the incident was a pedestrian bridge near Keikyu Aomonoyokocho Station in Shinagawa Ward. From the smartphone concealed in his shoulder bag, Makihara had a video lasting about five minutes, showing multiple women’s underwear, presumably filmed just before. It seems he had taken measures to not be conspicuous. The smartphone was fixed with styrofoam and wrapped with the same black tape as the bag. The police have not disclosed whether Makihara admits to the allegations.” (National Newspaper Social Affairs Reporter)

 

Research Applied to Criminal Investigation

Makihara, the suspect, was a renowned professor in his field.

“Makihara, who graduated from a prestigious high school in Osaka and entered the engineering department at Osaka University, had numerous awards since his graduate school days. According to Osaka University’s website, he was promoted to assistant professor in April 2007 and then to associate professor in June 2014, before becoming a professor at the Graduate School for Creative Cities in October 2019.

Makihara is affiliated with various academic societies, specializing in the research of ‘gait recognition.’ His research involves analyzing the way people walk using unique methods to identify individuals. It’s ironic that his research has been applied to criminal investigations, considering his arrest,” said a university official.

The police suspect that Makihara may have engaged in similar voyeuristic activities involving women in the past and are investigating any other possible offenses.