“The Victim’s Character Is Rotten”: Man Who Ordered “Proxy Sexual Assault” in an Underground Job Delivers a 10-Minute Rant of Madness in Court
The perpetrator was sentenced to 12 years in prison (prosecutors had sought 13 years)
He posted an ad for an “under-the-table job” with the intent of having the perpetrator sexually assault his ex-girlfriend.The trial of defendant Retsu Matsuda (27 at the time of arrest), the mastermind charged with trespassing and non-consensual sexual intercourse for instructing the hired perpetrator to break into the woman’s home and carry out the crime, was held on July 17 at the Tokyo District Court.
According to the indictment and other documents, defendant Retsu Matsuda posted messages on an online bulletin board stating, “I want someone to sexually assault a woman,” and recruited a perpetrator. He provided defendant Reiya Yamamoto (25 at the time of arrest), who responded to the posting, with the address of Ms. A—Matsuda’s former girlfriend—and details of the crime via social media.On the day of the crime, Yamamoto allegedly entered Ms. A’s home posing as a plumber, claiming, “I’m here to inspect the water supply,” and after committing lewd acts, stole 10,000 yen in cash.
The lay judge trial for defendant Reiya Yamamoto, who carried out the crime, was held on July 9. For those who wish to know more details about this trial, please refer to the report published in Friday Digital on July 21, ’25.
“On July 23, defendant Yamamoto, who carried out the crime, was sentenced to 12 years in prison (the prosecution had sought 13 years).During the trial, defendant Matsuda—who gave the instructions—offered a baffling explanation regarding defendant Yamamoto, who had visited Ms. A’s home posing as a plumber, claiming that Ms. A “wanted to see if she would unlock the automatic door even if he arrived at midnight.”Furthermore, he refused to delete Ms. A’s data remaining on his smartphone. Although he has admitted to the charges during questioning so far, he has shown no sign of remorse,” said a judicial reporter for a national newspaper.
Defendant Matsuda, who entered the courtroom wearing a tracksuit and sporting a shaved head, was small in stature but fixed a sharp gaze on the courtroom.
Ahead of the prosecution’s closing argument and sentencing recommendation, the victim’s attorney read aloud a statement expressing Victim A’s feelings.
“To be honest, being involved in this case is emotionally draining. At the time, I was in financial distress and posted a message saying, ‘I want you to support me.’ (Defendant Matsuda) asked me out repeatedly, and I agreed. He provided me with financial support, and there were times when he was generally kind and we had fun.He would say, ‘I’ll pay you if you let me touch you,’ and when I refused, it would sometimes lead to arguments.” (The text within 〈〉 below is from Victim A’s statement of feelings.)
It was revealed that the relationship between the two was based on money.
Defendant Matsuda nodded while taking notes, but perhaps because there were parts he found unconvincing, there were moments when he tilted his head or wore a dissatisfied expression.
I Was Almost Forced Into BL (Boys’ Love)
A’s emotional testimony continued. Feeling physically threatened by defendant Matsuda’s attempts to force him into abnormal sexual acts and an overdose, A blocked his calls and tried to cut off all contact. However,
“(Defendant Matsuda) called my company and asked my supervisor about me, and even though I hadn’t told him, he went to my parents’ house and demanded that my mother return my ATM card,”
—his actions escalated. A, who still lives in fear of Defendant Matsuda,
“He refuses to delete my information from his smartphone, and his obsession and desire for revenge have not subsided. If possible, I don’t want him to be released into society. I want him to remain locked up,”
and called for a severe punishment. The prosecution stated,
“The crime itself was premeditated, sophisticated, and malicious. He is offering absurd excuses, such as claiming he just wanted to check if the automatic lock would open,”
and sought a 10-year prison sentence. When the presiding judge asked Defendant Matsuda if he had anything final to say,
“I do have something to say. I’ve written it down in a note, so please let me read it,”
. When the presiding judge granted permission, he began a lengthy speech.
“I’m sorry for instructing the victim to commit the crime. Separate from that, I’d like the judges to hear this. (Ms. A) lied about having a fear of men to swindle money out of me. She was partying heavily with other men. Even though we signed a contract, she only honored it for the first two or three months.The two-year contract was also a lie. On the contrary, her behavior got worse. She hit me, kicked me, and even beat me with a bag. She pressed a cigarette into my skin, and the scar is still there today.”
He went on to say that Ms. A had called a male acquaintance and, implying that he was about to be forced into BL (Boys’ Love), began explaining what BL was. At that point, the presiding judge admonished him, saying, “Please read only what is written in your notes.” Later,
“I think the victim’s character is rotten. Although they haven’t accepted the police report I filed against Mr. A, I believe what he has done so far constitutes a crime. It’s absurd that the victim (Mr. A) has faced no consequences whatsoever. He’s a liar,”
She continued to voice her grievances against Mr. A. The presiding judge finally cut her off by asking, “Are you finished?” and she finally concluded her lengthy speech. Although she offered an apology, she showed no sign of remorse as she attempted to justify the despicable crime of acting as a proxy for sexual assault.
The verdict will be handed down on September 4.