Court Reveals Shocking Mindset of Man Who Attempted Sexual Assault on Woman He Stalked
“I didn’t intend to have sexual intercourse.”
Daichi Kusano (26), who was charged with trespassing and attempted non-consensual sexual acts after following a woman he had tried to pick up, appeared in court at the Tokyo District Court on October 9.
According to the indictment, in May 2025, Kusano approached a woman in her 20s on a street in Tokyo late at night, attempting to pick her up. When she refused to exchange contact information, he followed her home. He waited for a moment when she closed her door and then entered her residence, attempting to commit a lewd act.
A reporter from a national newspaper noted, “In August this year, a shocking case occurred in Kobe, where a resident woman was stabbed to death in her apartment elevator. The suspect, Masashi Tanimoto (35, at the time of arrest), followed his preferred female targets and bypassed the building’s auto-lock in a tailgating method. This current incident evokes memories of Tanimoto’s crime.”
In court, the full extent of Kusano’s actions, which terrorized a woman who had been merely walking on the street, became clear.
Kusano, a small-framed man, wore an oversized black T-shirt and appeared hunched over. Once seated, he cast anxious glances around the courtroom, giving him a somewhat childlike appearance.
When asked by the prosecution about his intentions in approaching the woman, he said:
“I liked her and wanted a friend or a girlfriend. At that time, I didn’t intend to have sexual intercourse.”
After she refused to exchange contact information, he followed her. Explaining his reason, he said: “She laughed a lot, and as we talked, I felt we were getting along. When it was time to part, I impulsively followed her because I wanted to keep talking.”
The prosecution pointed out that the woman had been “matching her conversation to avoid provoking him” (from her statement). In other words, Kusano’s sense of having “grown closer” was entirely his own misperception.
This misperception escalated in a distorted way. He followed her to her apartment, waited for the door to close, entered the residence, pushed her down, straddled her, and grabbed her wrists. When the woman pleaded, “Stop,” he finally realized she was frightened, and the attempt did not succeed.
However, the psychological impact on the woman was severe. She was diagnosed with stress disorder from the fear of “being raped or killed.” She continues to experience trauma just from seeing the entrance to her apartment and was forced to move.
“I will focus on my work.”
When asked by the prosecution about the possibility of reoffending, Kusano stated:
“I don’t think I will commit the act again. When the victim said stop, I didn’t go through with it.”
He claimed he would return to his hometown in Tochigi, live with his parents, and look for work for rehabilitation, though it was noted that he had not actually contacted his parents.
Even when the questioning shifted to the judge, the responses remained disjointed. When asked, “What should you do to prevent reoffending?” Kusano answered:
“I will avoid talking to strangers.”
The judge clarified: “Talking to strangers is not a crime. The issue is what led you personally to commit the crime.” Kusano replied:
“I feel sorry for having caused fear to the other person.”
The exchange highlighted a lack of understanding. A reporter commented:
“Kusano expressed words of remorse, but in court his statements showed little consideration for the victim. He misinterpreted the woman’s polite smiles as affection, followed her home, and entered her residence. He may not grasp the seriousness of his actions. His claim of living with his parents for rehabilitation was made without their consent, which does not reflect well in court. Participating in a formal rehabilitation program will likely be necessary.”
The prosecution demanded a four-year prison sentence, stating: “The crime was persistent and vile. Although it ended in an attempt, the fear inflicted on the victim is immeasurable. The victim also suffered financial loss due to being forced to move.”
The defense did not dispute the crime but argued: “Considering his lack of prior convictions and his age of 26, he should be given a chance at rehabilitation,” requesting a suspended sentence.
Given the opportunity to speak at the end of the trial, Kusano said:
“I reflect on having caused fear and will never commit the same mistake again. I will focus on my work.”
However, the victim continues to suffer from severe psychological trauma that disrupts daily life, and simply focusing on work does not constitute atonement.
