Former Sommelier on Trial for Indecent Acts: Shocking Excuse

An uncontrollable urge to attack against one’s will

“I have, so to speak, a sexual abnormality—I sometimes can’t control my sexual urges. When I see a woman I find attractive, I can’t suppress the desire to attack her against her will.”

Izumi Kaiyo (27), who is charged with two counts of non-consensual sexual assault against two women in their 20s, referred to as A and B, gave this response when the prosecutor asked why he committed these crimes.

“The Shibuya Police Department arrested Izumi on suspicion of non-consensual sexual assault by November 26, 2024. Around 2 AM on October 23, Izumi allegedly dragged victim B into a park in Shoto, Shibuya, pinned her down, and touched her body. A male witness who heard B’s distress called 110, leading to Izumi’s arrest.

Izumi had already been arrested and indicted for a previous incident on August 18, in which he allegedly grabbed and groped victim A from behind while she was walking on a street in Setagaya Ward. Following his second arrest, Izumi divorced his wife and vacated his home in Setagaya.” (National Newspaper Social Affairs Reporter)

On January 22, 2025, Izumi’s first trial was held at the Tokyo District Court.

Izumi admitted to the charges, stating, “I was drunk during both incidents and barely remember anything.” He added, “I plead guilty because there is testimony from the victims and evidence such as security camera footage.”

Grabbed the arm and dragged in

Izumi was working as a sommelier at a restaurant in Tokyo. In both cases, security camera footage showed Izumi riding his rental bicycle near the crime scene.

In the first case, Izumi, who was wandering around on his bicycle, spotted Ms. A at a convenience store where he stopped and was seen on the security camera following her.

When the prosecutor asked Izumi if he had been wandering around on his bicycle looking for women, he denied it, saying he had no recollection of the crime.

“I was wandering around because I was unsure whether to go for another drink. Then, I happened to see A-san, who was my type, so I think I followed her.” (Defendant Izumi)

In the second incident, Izumi asked Mr. B if he wanted to go out for a drink, and when he refused, Izumi “could not suppress his sexual desire,” so he grabbed his arm and dragged him into the park in a hug, but Izumi stated that he had no memory of dragging Mr. B into the park.

The prosecutor,

“B-san was intoxicated at the time and has a vague memory but stated, ‘I remember being dragged across the rough ground.’ Dragging B-san, who was unable to walk, all the way into the park must have been quite heavy, wasn’t it? Do you not remember that either?”

Even when repeatedly questioned, he still responded, “I don’t remember.”

Calls for harsh punishment are growing

After the 110 emergency call was made, as a man arrived to rescue B, Izumi took a shocking action. Despite being the one who attacked her, he suddenly stood up and, as if showing concern for B, began asking, “Are you okay?” However, Izumi claimed that he had no memory of this either.

When the prosecutor asked, “Why did you drag her into the park? Was it because you intended to do more than just commit an indecent act?” Izumi firmly denied it, saying, “No, that was not the case.”

During the trial, the prosecutor read out the victim statements of the two women, both of whom expressed strong feelings demanding punishment.

“If possible, I would like to erase the memory of being assaulted, but I can’t. I am forced to live with this emotional scar. The perpetrator, who selfishly changed my life, should receive severe punishment.” (A)

“I’m now afraid of the dark and have drastically reduced going out at night. If a stranger sits next to me on the train or walks behind me, I feel a sense of fear. He should be strictly punished and held accountable for putting me in this state.” (B)

Izumi, who had obtained a sommelier qualification after graduating from culinary school and had even worked at a renowned French chef’s restaurant, admitted during questioning by the prosecutor:

“I have long felt an abnormality in myself, an inability to suppress my sexual urges.”

He is now planning to attend a specialized clinic for counseling regarding his sexual urges.

Had he properly confronted his own tendencies before committing these crimes, he not only could have prevented victims from suffering but also might have avoided losing both his wife and his career as a chef.