“It Wasn’t One-Sided”: The “Distance” Between Former Janpoke Member Shinji Saito and His Wife, Saori Seto, Who “Defended” Him

Emotions ran high

Former “Jungle Pocket” member Shinji Saito (43) finds himself in a difficult situation. The defendant is charged with non-consensual indecent acts and non-consensual sexual intercourse against a woman identified as Ms. A. During the fifth hearing on June 2, the defendant was cross-examined.

The incident occurred in July 2024 inside a production van parked in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. He is suspected of touching Woman A’s breasts and performing oral sex on her, despite it being their first meeting. Appearing in court dressed in a black suit, defendant Saito described his first impression of Woman A as

“She was always smiling and seemed like a pleasant person,”

. Ms. A reportedly told him

“I like Mr. Saito the most out of the trio,”

, which led him to

“I thought she had feelings for me. I got carried away and thought she was looking for something more,”

he revealed.

During police questioning, she requested the dashcam footage to prove that the act was “not forced,” but upon learning that no such footage existed,

“There was no video or audio. I felt hopeless. I don’t know if people will believe the truth,”

she confessed. While insisting that the encounter with Ms. A was “consensual,” she also stated,

there was a moment when he apologized, saying, “I thought there was consent, but I failed to understand Ms. A’s feelings, and I am truly sorry.”

.

Immediately after the incident, Ms. A told her mother:

“Jampoke Saito is creepy. He tried to kiss me.”

The prosecution reportedly views this as evidence suggesting a lack of consent.

Removal of the term “Papa”

Regarding the key points of this trial, Ayao Masaki, managing partner of the law firm Your Ace, told this website in an interview:

“The key issue in this trial is whether there were legitimate grounds or specific circumstances sufficient to justify Mr. Saito’s belief that ‘the victim had consented.’ Mr. Saito claims that he ‘believed consent had been given,’ and the main point of contention is whether, from an objective perspective, ‘it was a situation in which consent could reasonably be perceived.’

According to media reports, since the incident took place in a confined space—a production van—the credibility of the victim’s testimony that she ‘resisted’ is of the utmost importance.Whether the victim’s testimony is credible is determined by whether it is consistent with other objective evidence and whether the content of the testimony is coherent. Furthermore, taking into account not only the testimony but also the relationship between the two and the circumstances at the time as evidenced by other evidence, the final judgment will be whether “it was a situation in which it would not be unreasonable to mistakenly believe that consent had been given.”

he analyzes.

In this “make-or-break” situation, it is proving difficult to find witnesses to support defendant Saito. In the comedy world,

“Apart from money and women, he’s a kind person. He was well-liked by both seniors and juniors, as well as program staff,” says a television industry source

, but none have gone so far as to take the stand to plead for leniency. The same is true of his wife, Saori Seto (38).

So, to what extent do character witnesses for the defense actually influence a trial…?

According to Ayao Masaki, managing partner of the law firm Your Ace mentioned earlier,

“Character witnesses for the defense generally do not determine guilt or innocence; rather, they are considered as factors regarding the severity of the sentence if a guilty verdict is reached. When family members or supporters appear in court to describe future supervision plans and support for rehabilitation, it serves to demonstrate to the court the defendant’s remorse and the likelihood of preventing recidivism.However, when determining the sentence, greater weight is placed on factors such as the malicious nature of the act, the severity of the harm caused, and whether a settlement has been reached. While the testimony of a character witness is considered in the defendant’s favor, the primary focus remains on the content and consequences of the defendant’s criminal conduct. Therefore, it is unlikely that the content of a character witness’s testimony will significantly influence the sentencing.”

he said. Even if his wife, Seto, were to take the stand, it seems unlikely that her testimony would have much impact on the sentencing.

In October 2024, immediately after the incident came to light, Seto posted an apology on Instagram, stating that the actions of her husband and Ms. A

“was not one-sided,”

. However, as time passed, she began to distance herself from defendant Saito.

In January 2025, she removed the term “Papa” from her Instagram. On January 3 of this year, she updated her Instagram for the first time in about a year and two months, showing off her homemade New Year’s feast.On January 14, she posted a photo of a feast celebrating her son’s 6th birthday, but the table held only two sets of chopsticks, making it clear that it was a moment shared solely between Seto and her son.

On February 24, she reported on her son’s remaining days at kindergarten, writing:

“My son, who gives me so much love and kindness every single day—saying things like, ‘I want Mom to smile a lot!’ or ‘I was born to help Mom!’”

she wrote gratefully.

Defendant Saito is currently separated from his wife and child. According to a comedy industry insider who knows the defendant,

“The thing he regretted most after the incident was not being able to see his child. There were times he would blame himself while in tears,”

.

Seto has already started a new life with her son, and it seems there is no room for defendant Saito to reenter their lives. Depending on the court’s verdict, it wouldn’t be surprising if she decided to “divorce.”

“Given the situation with their child, Mr. Saito seems to want to hold onto Ms. Seto’s feelings, but the reality is harsh. The fact that Ms. Seto has remained silent even after the trial began is likely because she is prioritizing her life with her son above all else,”

said a source from a talent agency.

A first-instance verdict for defendant Saito is expected as early as this fall. If he receives a prison sentence, an appeal is highly likely. It seems Saito’s legal battle is far from over.

Comment: Kencho Masaki, Attorney at Law
Representative of Your Ace Law Firm. Member of the Second Tokyo Bar Association. Handles a wide range of cases, from civil matters such as consumer disputes, traffic accidents, labor issues, inheritance, fraud, and drug-related cases to criminal cases.In addition to being a regular guest on BAYFM’s “Yukki’s Can Can do it!”, he frequently appears on news and information programs and other media outlets. On his YouTube channel, “Masakki Lawyer Channel,” he provides easy-to-understand explanations of legal and financial matters, and on the Your Ace official channel, “Legal Consultations You Might Be Curious About,” he shares essential legal knowledge.