Self-Proclaimed Director Sentenced to 4.6 Years in Prison for Exploiting Aspiring Actresses

On August 8, a verdict was delivered for Yasunari Yoshioka (54), who claims to be a film director and producer, and was charged with forced indecency among other offenses. The Tokyo District Court sentenced him to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

According to the indictment, Yasunari posed as a film producer and sought actresses for a film production online. He committed indecent acts against several women who came for auditions. During the auditions, he handed them a script titled “Classroom,” which included a kissing scene, and made himself the partner in the performance, engaging in vile acts such as kissing and touching their breasts. 

According to a report by “Shukan Josei Prime” (published March 12, 2022), shortly after his arrest, a large number of similar self-written scripts were found at the suspect’s home, and he had indeed been involved in film production. A man who had appeared in his films said:

“They were what you’d call indie films, but he handled everything from producing to directing with a stoic approach. For example, there were human stories about a protagonist growing through various encounters. He came from a background in construction and mentioned that he wanted to inspire more people to admire craftsmanship, like carpentry, through his films.”

He spoke about such things and had a favorable impression of Yasunari.

On the other hand, a person involved in film production testified:

“The sexual harassment towards the actresses was severe. He would add kissing scenes to the script during auditions and give extra hugs to those who seemed timid. It was a pattern where, despite being the director, he would say things like, ‘I’ll be your partner.’ It was almost exactly the same as the charges and methods he was arrested for.”

 

The actresses also felt wary and thought, “He’s dangerous.”

At the sentencing hearing, Yasunari entered the courtroom wearing a pink dress shirt, his hair neatly trimmed, and glasses, giving off the appearance of a clean-cut businessman. Once seated, he appeared quite nervous, frequently shifting in his seat and closing his eyes, perhaps to calm himself.

 

 

“Auditions were held in rental rooms or private apartments, with Yasunari and the victim alone together. The script involved a scenario where elementary school classmates who had feelings for each other reunited, and one character suddenly confesses, ‘I’ve always liked you,’ followed by a passionate kiss. During the acting test, he performed actions such as using his tongue and also touched the woman’s chest and genital area” (a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department). 

In court, Yasunari Yoshioka  stated:

“The women consented to the acts of their own free will as part of the audition process.”

One of the victims testified in a statement:

“I am really suffering. My mouth is itching, and I am mentally shattered. I also had a fever.”

She expressed her anguish and distress.

 

“Yoshio Yasunari also argued, ‘Kissing is a way to gauge enthusiasm.’ Among the victims, some were not only kissed but also had their clothes removed and were touched directly on their chest and buttocks. He would select women who seemed unlikely to resist, inform them that they had passed the second round of auditions, and invite them to the next audition. It appears he was trying to escalate his actions.” (according to a reporter from a national newspaper’s judicial affairs department)

 

In court, Yasunari’s claims were entirely rejected. The judge stated:

 

“His actions were despicable and malicious. He repeatedly made unreasonable excuses, and no remorse was shown.”

 

He was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

 

On August 21, the Tokyo District Court also held the second hearing for the case against film director Hideo Sakaki (54). Sakaki, who faces charges of quasi-rape for sexually assaulting two women under the guise of acting guidance, denied the allegations, claiming, “The embrace happened naturally” and “I did not use my influence as a director.”

 

The #MeToo movement has led to increased scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, with some believing that the cases brought to light are just the tip of the iceberg. If Sakaki is found guilty, it is hoped that he will receive a similarly strict sentence to prevent such incidents from recurring.