Taxi Driver Accused of Drugging Female Passengers — Courtroom Reveals His Shocking Defense

About 3,000 seized obscene videos and images

“I don’t know.” “I don’t remember.”

The former taxi driver who allegedly gave sleeping pills to female passengers, rendered them unconscious, and then had sexual intercourse with them, made these statements in court, denying the charges.

Defendant Satoshi Tanaka (54) is charged with unlawful entry into the home of Woman A, who was 23 at the time, as well as non-consensual sexual intercourse, and recording sexual acts involving three women (A–C). On October 28, the first hearing was held at the Tokyo District Court.

“On May 21, 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigation Division rearrested Tanaka, a former taxi driver from Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse and other charges. The allegation is that in July last year he gave sleeping pills to A, who was drunk, and sexually assaulted her. Tanaka is believed to have pretended to be concerned about her condition, handed her sleeping-pill tablets and water, and then rendered her unconscious. Tanaka denies the charges, saying, ‘I don’t remember.’

Tanaka’s first arrest was on October 30 last year, also involving a drunk victim—B, who was 18 at the time. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery resulting in unconsciousness. In August, he allegedly gave sleeping pills to B inside his taxi, stole 40,000 yen in cash and other items, and abandoned her in a parking lot. When B regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital.” —National newspaper social affairs reporter

After his first arrest, Tanaka was released without indictment while the investigation continued. On December 28 last year, police searched his residence. What they found were irrefutable pieces of evidence of sexual assault.

“Police seized a USB drive containing about 3,000 videos and images showing Tanaka performing obscene acts on multiple women. The USB also contained photos of ID cards belonging to women believed to be victims. Using these ID images, police identified the victims. Tanaka was then rearrested for the assault on A. A reportedly had no idea she had been victimized until contacted by police.

Some of the images dated as far back as 2008, and it is believed that approximately 50 women may have been victimized since then. Following A, police identified B and C (who was 27 at the time of the incident) and continued to rearrest Tanaka accordingly.

Additionally, in December last year Tanaka was arrested by another prefectural police department in connection with another indecent incident and had been indicted for non-consensual indecency.” —Same source

A shocking claim from the defense

At the first trial, the court examined the indictments for the three cases involving victims A–C. From the indictments and the prosecutor’s opening statement, the horrifying details of Tanaka’s crimes were revealed.

(Crime against A) “A, who had been drinking with friends, boarded the defendant’s taxi around 7 a.m. in late July 2025. After driving her home in Tokyo, the defendant entered her residence, gave her sleeping pills, rendered her unconscious, and had sexual intercourse with her. He also filmed and photographed the act. Additionally, he photographed A’s driver’s license and other identification documents.”

(Crime against B) “B, who had been drinking with friends, became extremely intoxicated and had sat down and fallen asleep on a street in Shibuya around 6 a.m. in late August 2024. The defendant drove his taxi past her several times and called out to her, but did not pick her up at that time and drove away.

Around 8 a.m., the defendant again returned to the location, picked up B, and gave her sleeping pills inside the taxi. He then parked the taxi in a parking lot in Nakano Ward and had sexual intercourse with unconscious B in the car. He filmed and photographed the act as well. He also photographed B’s ID, then abandoned her in a parking lot in Shibuya Ward.”

(Crime against C) “C, a 27-year-old woman who had been drinking with friends, became heavily intoxicated and by around 3 a.m. in mid-September 2024 had boarded the defendant’s taxi. The defendant gave her sleeping pills inside the car and around 4 a.m. stopped the taxi on a street in Setagaya Ward, where he had sexual intercourse with her. He filmed and photographed the act, and also photographed her driver’s license and other identification documents.”

After the prosecutor finished reading the indictment, Presiding Judge Satoko Morotoku asked, “Is there any mistake?” Tanaka responded as before: “I don’t know.”, denying the charges.

Then the defense attorney continued:

“We do not dispute the actions described in the indictment.

However, at the time of the incidents, the defendant was in a state of insanity.
Under Article 39, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code (‘An act of an insane person shall not be punished’), we argue that he is not guilty.”

The defendant, who turned what should have been the safety of a taxi into a dangerous enclosed space, is now being defended on the grounds that he was in a state of complete loss of judgment and self-control. Whether the court accepts this claim will be the focus of future hearings.

But can a person who is insane repeatedly give victims drugs, render them unconscious, sexually assault them, and even take photos of their ID?

More victims are expected to be identified, and additional indictments are anticipated. It appears that uncovering the full truth of the case will still take considerable time.

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