Defendant Who Assaulted 8-Year-Old Girl on Her Way Home From Buying a Birthday Gift for Her Father Offers Appalling Excuses in Court

The girl was crying in front of the school

“I like little children who are still young and know nothing, so I targeted such a child.”

The man who sexually assaulted the girl, who was 8 years old at the time of the incident, stated during his trial that he targeted the victim for this reason.

On February 6, 2025, Kanagawa Prefectural Police Sagamihara Station arrested Ayata Yamaguchi (34) on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse and other offenses against A-san, who was 8 years old at the time. According to reports, A-san had been on her way home after buying a birthday present for her father when she was assaulted. The incident came to light when a teacher noticed A-san crying in front of her elementary school and called 110 (Japan’s emergency number).

Yamaguchi had previously been sentenced to two years and four months in prison on March 23, 2019 for forcible indecent assault against another elementary school girl. Less than three years after his release, he committed a similar offense. (According to a social affairs reporter from a national newspaper)

At the second trial held at Yokohama District Court on May 22, 2025, the defendant was questioned. In the previous trial on April 14, the indictment revealed that Yamaguchi’s crime was exceptionally despicable:

“On September 3 of last year, after drinking alcohol and experiencing heightened sexual desire, the defendant Yamaguchi decided to assault A-san, who was passing by. He dragged her into a vacant lot, threatened her by saying, ‘Don’t make a sound, or I’ll kill you,’ and sexually assaulted her by inserting his fingers into her genitals and committing other acts. After being released from prison, Yamaguchi repeatedly entered and left support facilities, but at the time of this incident, he was living on the streets.”

During this session of the defendant’s questioning, when asked by his defense attorney, “How do you feel about this incident now?”, Yamaguchi strongly emphasized the influence of alcohol:

“I believe I did something truly terrible to the victim. I have alcohol dependence, and when I drink, my sexual desire intensifies, and I lose the ability to control myself. I believe that my inability to quit drinking is what caused this incident.”

When his attorney asked, “If it hadn’t been for the influence of alcohol, would a sex crime like this have occurred?”, he answered, “No.”

He promised to work on overcoming his alcoholism at a support facility after reintegrating into society.

The prosecutor uncovered the defendant’s true motive

Next, the prosecutor stood up to question the defendant.

The prosecutor asked, “Isn’t there a difference between becoming sexually aroused from drinking alcohol and committing a crime like non-consensual intercourse?”

To this, defendant Yamaguchi replied, “I had no money and couldn’t go to a brothel, so I ended up committing the crime. When I drink too much, even though I know it’s wrong, I do it. I couldn’t go to a brothel, and I like little kids, so I did it.”

The prosecutor pressed further, “Was the cause of this crime that you couldn’t go to a brothel, or that you wanted to commit sexual acts on an elementary school-aged girl? Which is it?”

Yamaguchi answered that he deliberately targeted a small child, adding, “I have always liked little kids, and after drinking, I got carried away and committed the crime.”

Afterward, closing arguments were presented.

The prosecutor stated, “He committed this crime to satisfy his own sexual desires — it is extremely malicious. It is unavoidable to say there is a very high risk of reoffending,” and sought a prison sentence of seven years.

The defense attorney simply said, “We ask for the most lenient sentence possible.”

In his final statement, Yamaguchi said, “I sincerely apologize for troubling the victims and the public,” and bowed deeply.

When asked by his defense attorney during questioning, “How do you feel about the victim’s family?” 

Yamaguchi answered, “If I had a child and they were subjected to such a prank, I think I would feel very hurt.”

Calling an act that will likely leave deep, lasting wounds on A-san’s mind and body a prank shows that Yamaguchi appears to trivialize the suffering of victims of sexual crimes. Listening to his words, one might get the impression that he implies the crime would not have happened if only I hadn’t drunk, or if only I had money to go to a brothel.

The verdict is scheduled for July 11.

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