Former Janpoke Member Saito: “Prosecutors Seek 7-Year Sentence”—The “Other Trial” He Faces Behind the Scenes of His Criminal Case

I hope for a criminal punishment rather than a settlement

Shinji Saito (43), a former member of “Jungle Pocket,” was referred to prosecutors on charges of non-consensual sexual intercourse and non-consensual indecent acts in connection with allegations of sexual assault aboard a location bus in July 2024.At the trial held at the Tokyo District Court on August 5, the prosecution sought a seven-year prison sentence.

The victim

“I want a criminal punishment, not a settlement,”

and had rejected the proposed settlement of 25 million yen.

Since the incident involving the location bus in July 2024—which sparked the case—the circumstances surrounding Saito have changed dramatically. Following his referral for prosecution by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Yoshimoto Kogyo, his agency, terminated his management contract the very same day. He was also forced to leave the comedy trio “Jungle Pocket.”

“In the trial that began this past March, while the defendant Saito’s side argued for acquittal, claiming, ‘I thought there was consent,’ the victim appeared in court and made clear her strong desire for punishment. If he is found guilty as the prosecution has sought, there is a high likelihood of a prison sentence without probation,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

The verdict is scheduled to be handed down on November 16, but the legal battle facing defendant Saito extends beyond this criminal trial. In fact, it has come to light that behind the scenes, he had filed “another lawsuit” in which he is the plaintiff.

Civil lawsuit filed in late July

Another source of trouble for defendant Saito is a “financial dispute” surrounding the sale of Baumkuchen, a business in which he is involved.

FRIDAY had reported allegations that the defendant Saito “ran off with the money” by failing to transfer approximately 1.6 million yen in sales proceeds from a sales event held in Fukuoka in October ’25 to Company A, his business partner at the time. At the time, the defendant’s side stated:

“It is true that we did not transfer the funds, but Company A had already fallen behind on its payments to us,”

. The two sides’ claims were in direct conflict.

Now, new developments have come to light. According to the defendant Saito’s attorney,

“The company (Company A) has made baseless allegations suggesting that Mr. Saito committed embezzlement and is refusing to pay the contractual remuneration; therefore, this matter has yet to be resolved. In response, Mr. Saito filed a civil lawsuit against Company A with the Tokyo District Court at the end of July Reiwa 8.”

In other words, the defendant Saito—who has been accused of “running off with the money”—has taken the initiative to file a civil lawsuit against Company A.

On one hand, there is the criminal trial where he faces a potential prison sentence after prosecutors sought “seven years in prison” over allegations of sexual assault; on the other, there is the civil lawsuit he initiated himself over unpaid business debts. Mr. Saito, once a household name, now finds himself in a precarious position facing a “double trial” that could very well determine the course of his life—.

[YouTube] On FRIDAY TV’s “Entertainment Reporter Channel,” active entertainment reporters presentprovide a thorough analysis in an episode titled “Former Janpoke Member Saitō: The ‘Truth’ Behind the Grand Banquet One Week After the ‘7-Year Prison Sentence’ Request.” Drawing on information only FRIDAY could uncover, they delve into the shocking behavior Saitō exhibited in Yamagata Prefecture, as well as the “backgrounds” of those who gathered there, including behind-the-scenes details of their reporting.