Rape Drug Cases Rise on Matching Apps: Court Reveals Crimes and Mother’s Regret

The act of drugging a woman with sleeping pills and committing indecent acts.

“The crime was planned, despicable, and malicious. The physical and mental pain inflicted on the victims is immeasurable.”

The sentencing hearing for Hiroshi Kawai (45, arrested at the time), who was charged with crimes such as semi-forced indecent assault after drugging a woman he met through a matching app and committing indecent acts, was held at the Tokyo District Court on November 5. The judge handed down a sentence of 7 years and 6 months in prison, condemning Kawai with the above words.

According to the indictment, in November 2022, in a restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, Kawai drugged the drink of a woman in her 30s while she went to the restroom, rendering her incapable of resisting, and then carried out indecent acts.

“Kawai reportedly kissed the woman on the spot. He then took her to a karaoke bar, filmed himself playing with her genitals, and later moved to a hotel where they had sex. There were three victims, and in one case, they had unprotected sex,” said a reporter from a national newspaper covering the judiciary.

The prevalence of matching apps has led to an increase in cases involving date-rape drugs.

“Sleeping pills can be easily prescribed if one claims insomnia at a hospital. Since they are quickly expelled from the body, it is difficult to find evidence, and many victims end up suffering in silence. With the rise in cases where people meet for the first time through matching apps and have a meal on the same day, such incidents are becoming more frequent,” explained a reporter from the social section of a national newspaper.

The crime was committed right in front of a police officer.

 

The perpetrator often records the indecent acts, and these videos have become irrefutable evidence during the investigation. However, victims often hesitate to file complaints due to the fear that the videos may be leaked.

What about in this case? According to a report by FNN Prime Online (Fuji TV, aired on February 8, 2023), the victim had no memory of the events until she woke up, which made her suspicious. This led her to consult with the police, prompting the Tsukiji Police Station to begin investigating Kawai’s actions.

During the investigation, they visually confirmed Kawai adding a liquid substance to the victim’s drink. He was taken for voluntary questioning, which led to his arrest in connection with the November 2022 incident. The victim was deeply shocked when she was informed of the details of the assault by the police officers.

“A large quantity of sleeping pills was found at the defendant’s home. Nine matching apps were installed on his smartphone, and he committed three incidents in a short period of two months, making his actions highly malicious,” said a source close to the investigation.

In the trial held in July, the testimony of Kawai’s mother was read aloud. In it, she stated, “He is shy and struggles with interpersonal interactions.”, but also mentioned,

“He’s gone on trips with me many times and has a kind side.”

She revealed that he also has a side that is considerate of his mother. She continued,

“As a woman, I find it unforgivable, but (Kawai) has lost everything and is reflecting on his actions.”

She sought a lenient sentence. The sentence handed down was 7 years and 6 months in prison. For the victim, the crime, carried out while she had no memory of it, left a deep emotional scar that will never heal.