[Judo School Sexual Assault Trial – Part 2] Defendant’s Comments on Sex Offenders Spark Outrage Among Victims’ Families
More than 100 video data and 400 still images
“I believe that anyone who has committed a crime should face their wrongdoing, reflect, and atone for it throughout their life, and I want the defendant to do the same.
However, considering that the defendant repeated these crimes over several years and his behavior from arrest through the trial, I also feel that expecting him to do so is unrealistic.”
At the third trial held on September 10, the mother of one of the victims gave a tearful statement on the case of a former judo school principal who sexually assaulted several girls who were his students (under 13 years old at the time of the incident). This is the second part of the report on the trial.
Former judo school head Yuta Ishino (33) faces a total of 10 charges: assaulting student A, non-consensual sexual acts, sexual misconduct, filming sexual acts, and violations of the Child Pornography Act against seven girls, B through H, and violations of the Child Welfare Act against I, who was under 18 at the time.
Ishino’s crimes occurred between 2019 and 2024, often while the victims were asleep, so many did not realize they had been abused. Some of the assaults were recorded on his smartphone, with over 100 video files and more than 400 still images.
As revealed by a victim’s mother during her statement, Ishino’s remarks at the second hearing on August 14 provoked anger in the victims and their families.
During that hearing, defendant questioning took place. In response to his lawyer asking, “You understand that what you did is clearly unforgivable, right?”, Ishino acknowledged his crimes and apologized.
However, when the prosecutor began questioning him about his statements during the investigation, his answers suddenly became inconsistent.
Scared to undergo sex offender treatment program
Prosecutor: “During the investigation, you said that you never put your penis in the victim’s mouth. Are you now admitting in this trial that you did?”
Ishino: “In my mind, I considered it as having touched them, and I did not think it went into their mouth.”
Prosecutor: “During the investigation, you said that you never inserted your fingers into the victim’s vagina. Are you now admitting that in this trial?”
Ishino: “In my memory, I believed that I did not do that, and I never intended to insert my fingers.”
When the prosecutor said, “Objectively, your statements contradict the videos and images,” Ishino’s lawyer interjected: “If you insist they contradict, then show him the images and confirm. If you’re so focused on this.”.
Presiding Judge Satoshi Miyamoto then asked, “At the arraignment, you said you admitted all charges. Is that your true understanding without any falsehoods?”, to which Ishino answered, “Yes.” This ended the questioning about his statements during the investigation.
When Judge Miyamoto asked, “In prison, there is a program for treating sex offenders. Do you have any intention of participating in it?”, Ishino suddenly replied in a loud voice, exhaling repeatedly:
“My crime is a sex crime. I read in a book that sex offenders are bullied by other inmates. In fact, during my detention, someone who knew me from the news came in later and caused trouble. So, while I do want to participate in the program, I also feel scared.”
During her statement at the third hearing, one of the victims’ mothers addressed this and said:
“If he truly reflects on his actions and intends not to reoffend, there is no answer other than participating in the program.”
The sentence sought was 25 years in prison
At the third hearing, following the victims’ statements, closing arguments were presented.
The prosecutor stated: “This case involved a judo instructor targeting his students in a series of offenses, shocking not only the children and their parents but society as a whole. The defendant’s personality abnormalities and his tendency to commit sexual crimes against young girls are extremely pronounced and serious, and the likelihood of reoffending is very high.”
The prosecutor requested a prison sentence of 25 years.
The defense attorney said, “We fully understand and agree with the gravity of the opinions expressed.” The defense argued that the crimes were committed secretly while the victims were asleep, so they did not directly cause pain or humiliation, and that the approximately nine months of detention and expulsion from the All Japan Judo Federation already constituted social punishment. The defense requested the most lenient sentence possible.
In his final statement, Ishino said: “I sincerely apologize again to the victims and their families. I vow never to betray the trust of the invaluable people who support me, and I want to move forward in life while keeping my remorse in mind.” He bowed deeply.
The victims’ parents were seated immediately to his right, but he did not look at them and returned to his seat.
The verdict is scheduled to be announced on October 22.
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Interview and text by： Ryo Nakahira
