Serial Molestation Case Uncovers Alarming Mindset Behind the Crime

For 10 months, relentlessly targeting the same female high school student

“I was able to feel for the first time just how much the victim and the victim’s family went through. I will never do such a thing again.”

Takashi Hosoya, a company employee from Ichikawa City, who continued to molest the same high school girl for about 10 months, uttered these words of apology in his final statement.

“The Fukagawa Police Station of the Metropolitan Police Department arrested the defendant Hosoya on June 18, ’25, on suspicion of violating the Tokyo Metropolitan Nuisance Prevention Ordinance. Hosoya was caught by investigators committing a molestation act on high school student A (15 at the time) inside a subway car and was arrested on the spot in the act.

A consulted the police on the 16th, saying, ‘Since early August last year, I’ve been repeatedly touched by the same man 2 to 3 times a week on the subway. I’ve been enduring it all this time.’ On the 18th, investigators accompanied her on the subway to keep watch.

Subsequent investigations revealed that there was also sexual assault committed against A. On July 1, Hosoya was re-arrested on suspicion of non-consensual intercourse. ‘She was my type, and she didn’t resist, so I did it multiple times, even on my days off, not just during my commute,’ Hosoya admitted to the charges,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.

On October 24, the second trial of defendant Hosoya was held at the Tokyo District Court and concluded. I would like to review the proceedings of the trial from the first hearing (October 15) to the conclusion.

In the first hearing, the details of the crime revealed from the indictment and the opening statement read by the prosecutor were as follows.

“The defendant continued committing acts of molestation against Ms. A on the train from around August 2024 at the latest. On June 16, 2025, the defendant waited for Ms. A at the platform with the intent to molest her. Upon spotting her, he boarded the same train car, stood behind her, and touched her buttocks over her clothing with his hand.

When Ms. A changed trains, he followed her and boarded the same car. When the seat next to her became vacant, he sat there and, while hiding his hands with a backpack, touched her thigh over her clothing.

Furthermore, on June 18, he waited at the platform to molest Ms. A, and upon spotting her, he boarded the same train car, stood behind her, and touched her buttocks over her clothing with his hand.”

The sexual assault discovered during the investigation after the arrest on June 12 was: “With the intent to molest Ms. A, he boarded the train at the time she would likely be on it, identified her, stood behind her, and inserted his hand inside her clothing to commit a sexual assault.”

I want to undergo treatment as quickly as possible

During questioning, Hosoya explained the motive behind his persistent and obsessive molestation of A as follows:

“Because of a growing rift with my common-law wife, we became sexless, and I was left in a state of sexual frustration. The victim resembled her in appearance, so I committed the acts against the victim to satisfy the desires I had toward my partner.”

He also stated that stress from being transferred at work — including unfamiliar tasks, strained workplace relationships, and providing care for relatives — contributed to his repeated acts of molestation.

Hosoya had previously been arrested for molestation in 2008 and 2013, receiving fines for violating the Public Nuisance Prevention Ordinance. Looking back on those incidents, he said, “I committed molestation solely to satisfy my sexual urges,” and “Only my father knew about the arrests, so I managed to hide it from others and never truly reflected on myself.”

Considering his prior offenses, Hosoya has begun receiving counseling from a clinical psychologist since his most recent arrest. He said he came to recognize his fetish for molestation and had a treatment plan prepared for him. Hosoya appealed to the prosecutor that he had a strong desire to correct his distorted sexual perceptions.

“I want to receive treatment as soon as possible—immediately. The treatment plan says that treatment is more effective when the will to change is still strong. I never want to do something like this again, so I want to start treatment as quickly as possible.”

Hosoya raised his voice, expressing determination to undergo treatment. The prosecutor continued questioning:

Prosecutor: “Are you saying that you want to rehabilitate within society?”

Hosoya: “If that is possible, then yes.”

Prosecutor: “What will you do if a prison sentence is handed down?”

Hosoya: “After serving my time, I intend to go to treatment immediately.”

Words that made it sound as if he were treating women like objects

Defendant Hosoya appears to show a level of eagerness for rehabilitation that seems almost over-enthusiastic. However, on the other hand, the deposition read by the prosecutor from Mr. A’s father conveyed a strong sense of relentless desire for punishment towards him.

“Thinking about the feelings of my daughter, who endured for such a long time, makes me feel painful as well. The emotional scars she has suffered will not heal easily. As a parent, I naturally wish for severe punishment for the perpetrator. I have no intention of responding to any talk of a settlement.”

At the second trial, after a friend who wrote a petition for defendant Hosoya appeared as a character witness, closing arguments took place.

The prosecutor stated, “In the case concerning his previous offenses, he committed acts of molestation against minors on trains, similar to this case, indicating a strong sexual desire towards minors of the victim’s age. This habit shows a strong propensity to resort to illegal acts to satisfy such desires,” and requested a sentence of six years imprisonment.

On the other hand, the defense lawyer mentioned that relatives, a cohabiting woman, and friends have pledged to act as guarantors, promising to supervise and assist the defendant’s rehabilitation going forward. He stated, “The relationship with the common-law wife has improved, significantly reducing stress. Considering the defendant’s deep remorse and the presence of four guarantors, the possibility of reoffending is nonexistent.” He argued, “We ask for as lenient a sentence as possible in this case, and if possible, a sentence of three years imprisonment with a five-year suspended sentence.”

In his final statement, defendant Hosoya continued, sobbing and in tears, after making the aforementioned remarks.

“From the time of my arrest to today, I think not only the victims but also my acquaintances around me and my important common-law wife have suffered considerably. I absolutely want to prevent any new victims from emerging. That’s all.”

Defendant Hosoya, eager to treat his molestation tendencies quickly, continued to plead in a rushed manner. However, when asked by the prosecutor, “What is the reason you engaged in groping as a way to release built-up stress?” he answered as follows.

“Since I have a girlfriend, I should be able to release my stress with her, but because we became sexually inactive, I couldn’t release it, so I was taking it out on completely unrelated victims.”

The statement seemed to indicate that he saw not only the victim but also the woman he was living with as merely a stress relief target. It might be better for him to first change this perception of treating such women as objects rather than focusing on treatment.

The verdict is scheduled to be announced on December 12.