<figure id="attachment_479754" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479754" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e1c66c12"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/9464f3f5bd7d5641726bfcaeac47d292.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479754" class="wp-caption-text">Defendant Saito sits at the counter of a Japanese restaurant in the downtown area, sipping from his glass. Here, too, he enjoyed a drinking party for an hour.</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="css-1xkynk5"> Prosecutors Seek Severe Punishment: “Seven Years in Prison”</h2>
<p> Inside a certain complex in Yamagata City, there is a yakiniku restaurant beloved by locals for serving top-grade Yamagata beef at reasonable prices. One night in mid-August, several men emerged from this popular restaurant. Perhaps having savored the local specialty, they all walked cheerfully toward the parking lot.</p>
<p> Apparently having devoured a generous portion of A5-grade kalbi and loin, the defendant Shinji Saito (43), a former member of “Jungle Pocket,” was seen in high spirits, clutching his prominently protruding belly.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Saito is on trial for sexually assaulting a female co-star whom he met for the first time in 2024. At the hearing on August 5, the prosecution sought a seven-year prison sentence. The defense is arguing for acquittal, and a verdict is expected in November,” said a reporter from the social affairs desk of a national newspaper.</span></p>
<p> During the trial, the malicious nature of the crime was emphasized, and prosecutors sought a severe punishment for defendant Saito. Yet just one week later—while facing a high likelihood of a prison sentence—he was reveling at the lavish party described above.</p>
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<p> On that day, Saito had been working hard at a sales event for a Baumkuchen shop that opened last April. It appears the gathering at the aforementioned yakiniku restaurant was a celebration to mark the event’s success. After leaving the restaurant, the group drove to one of Yamagata’s most popular entertainment districts.They entered a stylish Japanese restaurant with an average check of about 7,000 yen.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Mr. Saito was sitting at the counter, passionately speaking about something while gesturing with his hands. He didn’t seem particularly drunk, but he was in high spirits. The people with him were wearing T-shirts with Mr. Saito’s face printed on them. I think they were people involved in the Baumkuchen sales.” (A passerby who witnessed the group)</span></p>
<p> By the time the party was winding down, it was past midnight. Defendant Saito said goodbye to his companions and, together with one of them, disappeared into the night.</p>
<figure id="attachment_479755" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479755" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ac1c9dcd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/0abf77b3dd3df11d5732afb94263edb5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479755" class="wp-caption-text"> They left the Japanese restaurant shortly after midnight. Saito chatted and laughed with the people involved in the Baumkuchen sales on the street in front of the restaurant for a few minutes.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_479756" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479756" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="91c27a9b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/d25c3ec3372d4aec09b3474dc515db6b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479756" class="wp-caption-text"> The group emerged from a commercial complex in Yamagata City that houses a yakiniku restaurant. Defendant Saito walked toward his car with a satisfied expression on his face.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_479757" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479757" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="189182b0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/2bed5bad9daa2fe01f4186d0dd729f8d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479757" class="wp-caption-text"> After the sales event ended, Defendant Saito discarded the contents of a plastic bottle. He then loaded equipment—including a refrigerator and banners—into the car one by one.</figcaption></figure>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" There is one more trial."></div>
<h2>Civil litigation is currently underway</h2>
<p> The aforementioned lawsuit is not the only legal matter defendant Saito is facing. Last November, FRIDAY reported on a financial dispute involving defendant Saito related to the sale of Baumkuchen.He is suspected of embezzling approximately 1.6 million yen in sales proceeds from a sales event held in Fukuoka in October ’25 by failing to transfer the funds to Company A, his business partner at the time.</p>
<p> At the time, when interviewed by FRIDAY, Defendant Saito admitted that he had not transferred the sales proceeds but claimed, “Company A had been delinquent in paying my compensation.” According to a person familiar with Defendant Saito, “The two sides’ accounts are completely at odds, and the matter remains unresolved to this day.”</p>
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<p> What has become of this financial dispute since then? Saito’s legal representative responded as follows:</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> “Company A has made baseless allegations suggesting that Mr. Saito committed embezzlement and is refusing to pay the contractual compensation, so this matter has not yet been resolved. In response, Mr. Saito filed a civil lawsuit against Company A with the Tokyo District Court at the end of July Reiwa 8.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Proceedings are currently underway to seek a fair resolution through the judicial system. However, as providing specific details regarding the claims could potentially influence future court proceedings, we refrain from commenting at this time.”</span></p>
<p> Facing two lawsuits, defendant Saito continues to work diligently selling Baumkuchen. Was the grand banquet in Yamagata at least a brief respite for him as he navigates this thorny path?</p>
<figure id="attachment_479758" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479758" style="width: 1155px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="98f02775"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/c3b88730cff4338c106222e3f0b29155.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479758" class="wp-caption-text"> Unpublished photo from this magazine: Defendant Saito working up a sweat at a sales event for the Baumkuchen shop, which opened last April</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_479760" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479760" style="width: 1398px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="fab0fe55"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/1f875a06428a616e119160fa9f1e730b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479760" class="wp-caption-text"> Unpublished photo from this magazine: Defendant Saito working up a sweat at a sales event for the Baumkuchen shop that opened last April</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_479761" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479761" style="width: 1542px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="95692c42"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/09/484719d5e2092288ec0843ce912f0dba.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479761" class="wp-caption-text"> Exclusive photo from this magazine: A photo of former “Janpoke” member Shinji Saito—one week after prosecutors sought a “seven-year prison sentence”—at a “grand banquet” held in Yamagata</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the September 11 &amp; 18, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”</p>
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 Takao Kawakami

 Just one week after the trial where a harsh sentence was sought… Defendant Saito, having wrapped up a sales event at a Baumkuchen shop, appeared in high spirits at the after-party. He feasted on Yamagata beef at a yakiniku restaurant and enjoyed a drinking party at a Japanese restaurant in the city until past midnight.

 He feasted on Yamagata beef barbecue and enjoyed a drinking party at a Japanese restaurant in the city until past midnight

[Full Text Published] A Grand Party! One Week After the “7-Year Prison Sentence Request”… Cheerful Photos of Defendant Shinji Saito, Former Member of “Janpoke”

[Full Text Published] A Grand Party! One Week After the “7-Year Prison Sentence Request”… Cheerful Photos of Defendant Shinji Saito, Former Member of “Janpoke”

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