Shinichi Sato, the “Begging Professor” from the University of Tokyo Graduate School: “Photos Showing Him Looking Delighted at a Pole-Dancing Bar in Atami”

The “Professor of Begging’s” Side of the Story

With his forehead glistening with oil, the man slipped a tip into the woman’s ample cleavage. His mouth was half-open, and he was clearly drooling—the night he spent at that pole-dancing bar in the hot-spring resort town must have been a lot of fun.

This man is Shinichi Sato (63), the “Begging Professor” from the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tokyo. The first hearing in the case in which he is charged with bribery was held on the afternoon of September 25 at the Tokyo District Court.

According to the indictment and other documents, between March ’23 and August ’24, Sato is alleged to have received hospitality totaling approximately 1.83 million yen on 28 occasions at soaplands and high-end clubs in Tokyo from Koichi Hikichi, former representative director of the Japan Cosmetic Association, a general incorporated association,(53, convicted of bribery) at soaplands and high-end clubs in Tokyo on 28 occasions, totaling approximately 1.83 million yen. Sato, dressed in a suit, took the stand and admitted to the charges, stating, “There are no errors in the indictment.”

Sato had previously maintained his innocence, arguing that “the entertainment was not an improper gratuity but compensation for lectures,” but he reversed his position and pleaded guilty at the first hearing. The trial concluded the same day, with the prosecution seeking a two-year prison sentence and a forfeiture of approximately 1.83 million yen, while the defense requested a suspended sentence.

The focus of the verdict, to be handed down on October 22, is whether a suspended sentence will be granted; one of the factors in that decision is whether the entertainment was “coerced” or not.When questioned about this point by the defense during the trial, Sato denied the allegations, stating, “There was no coercion,” and “It was because [Mr. Hikichi] wanted to use the University of Tokyo brand.” However, Mr. Hikichi, who was present in the courtroom, expressed his anger in an interview after the trial.

“I thought, ‘Don’t lie.’ Sato was in a position of authority with the power to open or close the course. Even before the course began, he would fly into a rage over trivial matters, threatening to ‘cancel the course’ and flaunting his authority—I was absolutely terrified.I couldn’t refuse when he invited me to dinner… The restaurants he chose were all ultra-luxury establishments—the kind frequented by the chairmen of publicly traded companies—and always in private rooms. When he said ‘Thank you’ at the register, I had no choice but to pay.”

As he made this account, Mr. Hikichi showed the author a photograph. He said it was from the scene at the pole-dancing bar mentioned at the beginning. It was taken in mid-December 2023. It was a photo from a hot spring trip to Atami that doubled as a year-end party, and Mr. Hikichi was present at the time.

“Sato was thoroughly delighted to have a girl in her underwear perform a private dance for him. There were about 15 of us, and I think we easily spent 1 million yen in total. Moreover, this hot spring trip isn’t included in the 28 entertainment events for which he was indicted. It’s just that those weren’t acknowledged—there were plenty of other entertainment events as well.”

What Mr. Hikichi feared was that Sato would take offense and cancel the course altogether. Regarding the dates, times, and locations of the entertainment events, Sato’s subordinate—Ayumu Yoshizaki, a former specially appointed associate professor at the same graduate school (47, convicted of bribery), admitted during his trial this past April, “It is true that I requested [the entertainment].” He also testified that this was part of “the culture of the medical school,” adding:

“If I said something to Professor Sato and he took a dislike to me, I would no longer have a place in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Tokyo.”

What verdict will the court hand down to Sato, the central figure in this case? (Some titles omitted)

The October 2 issue of *FRIDAY* (October 16 edition) and the paid version, *FRIDAY GOLD*, provide detailed coverage—based on Mr. Hikichi’s testimony—of Sato’s “obsession with women,” which lay behind the coercion to provide entertainment.

Click here to view the full details and multiple photos ↓

From the October 16, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*