Man at Daycare Facility Reoffends: Can Japan’s Version of “DBS” Prevent Heinous Crimes Against Children?

Stored multiple images of a boy’s private parts on his smartphone.

On December 13, Yuki Furukawa (38 at the time of his arrest), accused of indecent assault on a 4-year-old boy in a restroom at a daycare facility, held his first trial at the Tokyo District Court.

A small, overweight man wearing a gray top and bottom sweatshirt and a mask appeared in court and took his seat with a blank expression on his face, showing no signs of agitation at the sight of the packed auditorium. He had short hair at the time of his arrest, but had shaved his head, perhaps to show remorse.

 According to the indictment, in August 2024, Furukawa directly touched the anus of a 4-year-old boy who attended a daycare facility in Bunkyo Ward, where he worked as a childcare assistant. Regarding the indictment, Furukawa admitted in a small voice, “There is no doubt about it.”

According to the opening statement read by the prosecutor, Furukawa became sexually aroused by the boy’s buttocks, anus, and defecation, and saved images of the boy’s buttocks on his smartphone. The incident came to light when the boy reported the incident to his mother.

“Initially, Furukawa denied the charges, saying, ‘I have no recollection of such acts.’ However, his smartphone contained multiple images of boys’ buttocks,” said a judicial correspondent for a national newspaper.