25-Year-Old Woman Dies After Abuse And Alleged Papa-Katsu Demands By Cohabiting Man

The “Ryotaro” mentioned in the diary is Ryotaro Masuda (26), who was re-arrested on November 21 by the Shibuya Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on suspicion of assault. In August 2024, Ms. A (25), who had been living with Masuda in a Hiroo apartment in Shibuya Ward, passed away. It is believed that Masuda habitually subjected Ms. A to violence, including repeatedly striking her face.

“Ms. A’s smartphone contained numerous images showing her left cheek and lips swollen and her teeth broken. Masuda, who claims to be an independent investor, reportedly used violence to force Ms. A into submission and directed her to engage in ‘papa-katsu’ (dating older men for money).

It is said that the money Ms. A earned from ‘papa-katsu’ was used as investment funds and for their living expenses. Masuda allegedly told the police, ‘I don’t clearly remember, but I might have been violent at times,’” stated a reporter from a major national newspaper’s social affairs department.

FRIDAY Digital previously published a detailed report on September 4, 2024, covering the case leading to Masuda’s initial arrest. This extensively revised article revisits the shocking claims and details of the incidents surrounding Masuda.

Suspect calls 119 himself

On August 30, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigation Division arrested Masuda, a resident of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. He is suspected of being involved in the death of Ms. A, a female company employee living with him in their Hiroo apartment. It is reported that Masuda himself called emergency services that morning, stating:

“She’s collapsed in the hallway. She’s unconscious.”

When paramedics arrived and examined Ms. A’s body, they found multiple bruises and injuries.

“Surveillance footage from the night before the incident, August 29, at around 11:30 p.m., shows Ms. A entering a nearby convenience store alone. During police questioning, Masuda admitted to assault, stating, ‘It’s true I hit her in the face.’ The attack is believed to have occurred between late at night on the 29th and the morning of the 30th.

Masuda and Ms. A first met on social media and began dating in December 2021. Shortly after, they started living together in the Hiroo apartment. According to the forensic autopsy, Ms. A’s cause of death was traumatic shock,” said another social affairs reporter.

During police questioning, Masuda reportedly offered an exasperating explanation for his actions:

“We argued over the room’s temperature, so I hit her. Then I went to sleep, and when I woke up in the morning, she had collapsed.”

A photographer from this magazine captured images of Masuda being taken into custody on the morning of September 1, shortly after 9 a.m. Sitting in the back seat, accompanied by investigators, Masuda appeared visibly exhausted, his expression downcast throughout.

Following his initial arrest, Masuda underwent a two-month psychiatric evaluation and was indicted on November 19.