A pretty heavy update dropped in the case involving Shinji Saito, the former member of the comedy trio Jungle Pocket.
Prosecutors have formally requested a 7-year prison sentence for the 43-year-old. He’s charged with sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s inside a parked location bus in Shinjuku back in July 2024. The two had just met that day.
During questioning earlier this year, Saito stuck to his story that he believed everything was consensual. He said he thought the woman liked him, that the distance between them had closed, and that she was into it too. He’s maintained his claim of innocence on those grounds.
The woman, though, has given a very different account. She’s described the experience as deeply disgusting and humiliating. Prosecutors argued that Saito used his position and influence as a working entertainer to pressure her—making her worry that turning him down could hurt her future opportunities in the industry.
The case is still moving through the courts, so the final outcome isn’t in yet. But the prosecution going for seven years shows they’re treating this as a serious offense.
Celebrity cases like this always hit different because of the power imbalance involved. We’ll keep an eye on what happens next.