<figure id="attachment_410559" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 640px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410559"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0c6a1dec"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/b1649e3b77f2fcfb7f09e49bc2e927a5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410559" class="wp-caption-text">Sexual violence against women that continues unabated (images are for reference only).</figcaption></figure>
<h2>“You can sell them out or you can erase them.”</h2>
The trial of Masanori Hoshi, a 57-year-old former advisor of an entertainment agency, who has been charged with quasi-rape and quasi-forcible sexual intercourse for sexually assaulting an aspiring actress, was held on January 16 at the Tokyo District Court.
According to the indictment, Hoshi is suspected of sexually assaulting a teenage girl affiliated with his entertainment agency in 2016 after telling her he wanted to check her body shape and taking her to a hotel.
&#8220;Hoshi threatened the woman by saying, &#8216;I have connections with powerful figures in the entertainment industry and the Yakuza, so I can either promote or erase you,&#8217; forcing her into sexual acts. The woman testified that she is a lesbian, had never had a boyfriend, and had no prior sexual experience before the assault. However, in previous trials, while Hoshi admitted to the sexual acts, he claimed they were consensual and pleaded not guilty,&#8221; said a national newspaper judicial correspondent.
Hoshi appeared in court wearing a black suit, his graying hair and deeply lined face giving him a stern look that reflected his former position as an entertainment agency advisor. The woman accused him of exploiting his position for a despicable crime, while Hoshi maintained his innocence, with their statements in direct conflict.
&#8220;The victim had been working as a model since junior high school and moved to Tokyo after graduating from high school to attend university. She experienced a relapse of anorexia, which she had previously suffered from, but overcame it due to her strong desire to become an actress. Later, she joined the agency where Hoshi was an advisor, which is when the sexual assault occurred,&#8221; the correspondent added.
At the start of the trial, the victim read her statement from behind a screen set up to protect her identity.
&#8220;I was able to overcome anorexia, which had brought me close to death many times. It was because I had a strong desire to become an actress. However, I never imagined that at 19, I would suffer sexual abuse from a director of an entertainment agency (editor’s note: the woman referred to him as director, though his actual title was advisor). If I hadn’t been assaulted, I believe I would still be performing on stage.&#8221;
She expressed her anguish further:
&#8220;I thought that if I distanced myself from Hoshi, the trauma and feelings of my body being dirty would disappear. But they never did. Small triggers make me remember him, causing me to struggle to breathe and leaving me in tears.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m now afraid of interacting with people, and I can no longer envision a future where I get married or have a family. My body may be alive, but my heart was killed by Hoshi.&#8221;
She described how the impact of the assault has extended into her personal life, speaking of her overwhelming despair.
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="The statements of the victim woman and the defendant are in direct conflict."></div>
<h2>“You want to be an actress, don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</h2>
Regarding Hoshi&#8217;s claim of innocence, the victim strongly stated:
&#8220;I am filled with anger and sadness after hearing Hoshi&#8217;s testimony. I want him to feel the weight of his crime through a strict punishment.&#8221;
The investigation revealed that Hoshi not only abused his position but also exploited the woman’s struggle with anorexia.
&#8220;He said, &#8216;Since you&#8217;ve been thin due to anorexia, I want to see your body,&#8217; and took nude photos of her in a hotel. When the woman showed signs of reluctance, he yelled, &#8216;Don’t you want to be an actress? Didn’t you just say you were motivated?&#8217; This created a state where she was unable to resist, either physically or psychologically, and he proceeded to have sex with her. He ejaculated inside her without using a condom,&#8221; said an investigative source.
The prosecution stated:
&#8220;Convincing the victim that he had power in the entertainment industry and ties to the Yakuza, and that he could eliminate actresses he didn’t favor, was a vile and heinous act. He has shown no remorse, offering only unjustifiable excuses.&#8221;
They sought a prison sentence of seven years. On the other hand, the defense reiterated Hoshi’s plea of not guilty:
&#8220;He never made statements about having Yakuza connections. The sexual acts were consensual.&#8221;
Hoshi himself firmly declared:
&#8220;I cannot admit to things that are not true. I ask for a fair judgment.&#8221;
With both sides presenting conflicting claims, the court’s decision remains to be seen. The verdict will be delivered on February 26.

 On January 16, the Tokyo District Court heard the trial of a former advisor to an entertainment production company who was accused of semi-rape and other crimes for sexually assaulting an aspiring actress. The man's entire method of preying on women by using threatening language was described....

Former Entertainment Agency Advisor with Yakuza Ties Exposed in Court for Exploiting Aspiring Actress

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