Shinji Saito Sent for Prosecution Over Alleged Sexual Coercion and Debt Report That Outraged Horse Racing

Shinji Saito (42) of Jungle Pocket is causing concern for the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

In July of this year, Saito was accused of non-consensual sexual intercourse, having allegedly forced a sexual act on a woman in her 20s, an influencer, inside a parked location bus in Shinjuku, Tokyo. On October 7, he was sent for prosecution.

Saito has stated in his testimony:

“It was a reckless act, and I regret causing trouble for the other party and my own family.”

However, he maintains that there was consent between him and the victim.

“Regardless of whether there was consent or not, this incident took place inside a location bus, which can be considered a ‘workplace’ for talents. At this point, there has been little to no support for Saito in the entertainment world. Even if the charges are dropped, his return to show business seems unlikely,” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

Gambling debts range from several million yen to tens of millions of yen.

His company, Yoshimoto Kogyo, decided to terminate Saito’s contract with the company without waiting for the prosecutors to decide whether to prosecute or not. Jungle Pocket” is currently performed by the duo of Hirohisa Ota and Otake.

 

In addition to the sexual scandal, reports of Saito’s “debt” also surfaced.

The October 17 issue of Shukan Bunshun (Shukan Bunshun) reported that Saito had always been a genuine gambler, but that he had been losing money in recent years and had asked his acquaintances for loans. The amount of his debts is said to range from several million to tens of millions of yen.

This has infuriated the JRA.

Saito has been the MC of the horse racing program “Winning Horse Racing” (TV Tokyo) since April ’13. He also owned “Omata Seshimashita” in local horse racing as a horse owner.

JRA saw it as a problem.

“He was racking up debts for gambling.”

The story was widely publicized as “a man who had racked up debts for gambling.

A reporter from a newspaper specializing in horse racing with knowledge of the situation had this to say.

Until a decade ago, horse racing was regarded as a “gambling” sport that middle-aged and older people got into, but in recent years, JRA has invested heavily in its image strategy, and in recent years, children and women have been seen at the racetracks. Game content such as “Uma Musume” has also contributed to this trend. This was unthinkable before. Just as horse racing was finally becoming an entertainment that women could also enjoy, there were reports of Saito’s “debt. And since she was also the MC of a horse racing TV show, the JRA is said to be very upset.

 

The JRA has a page on its website titled “JRA’s Measures Against Gambling and Other Addictions,” where you can consult with a consultation service, learn about gambling disorders, and check a self-check tool for addiction.

In addition, a PDF file titled “Japan Central Racetrack Association Advertising and Promotional Guidelines” contains the following advice when advertising horse racing: “Do not use content that may stimulate the gambling spirit,

The PDF file, “Japan Central Horse Racing Association Advertising and Promotional Guidelines,” states that when advertising horse racing, “Be careful not to create content that excessively stimulates the gambling spirit.

The PDF file, titled “Japan Central Racing Association Advertising and Promotion Guidelines,” explains that the association follows rules for advertising horse racing, such as “avoiding content that may stir up a gambling spirit,” and avoiding the image of profit through refunds and other forms of redemption or high refunds.

He has been a long-time host of a live horse racing program sponsored mainly by JRA.

The talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo decided to terminate its contract with Saito without waiting for the prosecution’s decision on whether to indict him or not. Jungle Pocket is currently active as a duo with Hirohisa Ohta and Otake.

In addition to the sexual scandal, there have also been reports about Saito’s gambling debts.

According to Weekly Bunshun (October 17 issue), Saito, who was originally a dedicated gambler, had been losing over the past few years and had been asking acquaintances for loans. The amount reportedly ranges from several million to tens of millions of yen.

This has enraged the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

Saito had been the host of the horse racing program Winning Keiba (TV Tokyo) since April 2013. He was also an owner of a racehorse, “Omataseshimashita,” in regional horse racing.

What the JRA found problematic was the widespread reporting that he had accumulated debt due to his gambling activities.

A journalist from a horse racing specialty newspaper who knows the situation says:

“Until a few years ago, horse racing was considered a gamble that middle-aged and older people would get involved in, but in recent years, the JRA has invested heavily in an image strategy, and now it’s common to see children and women at the racetrack. Game content like Uma Musume has helped push this trend. This is something that was unimaginable before. Just as horse racing has finally become an entertainment that women can enjoy, Saito’s gambling debt news broke. Moreover, since he was the host of a horse racing program, the JRA is reportedly furious.”

The JRA has a page titled JRA’s Gambling and Addiction Measures on its website, where users can check consultation services, explanations on gambling disorders, and self-check tools for addiction.

Additionally, the Japan Racing Association Advertising and Promotion Guidelines PDF explains that when promoting horse racing:

“Be mindful not to create content that overly excites the sense of risk or chance.”

It also explains the rules that prevent promoting activities like cashing out, or creating an image that high payouts lead to profits.