Ex-Jungle Pocket Member Faces 7-Year Prison Demand in Tokyo Sexual Assault Trial

Tokyo prosecutors demanded a 7-year prison sentence on August 5 for Shinji Saito, 43, a former member of comedy trio Jungle Pocket, after the sixth court hearing in his sexual assault case. The victim, a woman in her 20s, testified that the 2024 incident in a location bus destroyed her career as an influencer and caused severe trauma. She now faces forced retirement and requires psychiatric treatment.

What the victim told the court

The victim gave emotional testimony describing her life after the assault. She said she developed PTSD and now takes four prescription medications daily. Doctors estimate she needs five to six years to return to normal social functioning. She was forced to take leave from her job as a company employee and influencer after coworkers identified her as the victim. She now faces the end of her leave period and must resign.

The defendant’s response and prosecution case

Saito’s defense team claimed he believed consent existed at the time. In his final statement, Saito bowed to prosecutors but maintained he thought the woman had agreed. The prosecution sought the 7-year custodial sentence to secure actual prison time rather than a suspended sentence, signaling a strict stance on sexual violence.

Impact on the victim’s life

The victim lost all work as an influencer after the assault. She said she was rumored at her company to be the victim and sometimes asked directly about it. Social media, once her safe space, became a source of abuse. Critics blamed her for not resisting, but she testified that she feared what might happen if she fought back. She called the online accusations that she staged a honey trap “unbearably humiliating.”

What comes next

The trial concluded on August 5 after six hearings. The judge will now decide on sentencing. The victim asked the court to impose the longest and heaviest sentence possible, stating that if Saito’s sentence is only five to six years, he would return to society before she does, making any lighter term unacceptable to her.

Final Thoughts

The case highlights the lasting damage sexual assault inflicts on victims and the prosecution’s push for meaningful prison time in Japan. The judge’s decision will signal how seriously Tokyo courts treat non-consensual sexual violence by high-profile figures.

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