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Osaka man on trial for pimping high school girl to 100 men over 10 days
OSAKA (TR) – A man on trial here for forcing a high school girl into prostitution whereby she served more than 100 men last year has admitted to the allegations, reports the Sankei Shimbun (June 21).
Based on the opening of the trial held at the Osaka District Court on June 17, Kaito Takimoto, 26, formed a group that forced two high school girls into prostitution, a scheme under the name 'Enjo Kosai Delivery Health,' which means a form of compensated dating.
According to the prosecution's opening statement, one of the two girls was forced to have sex with at least 109 men over a 10-day period while traveling by car around Tohoku and other areas. The defendant coerced the other to have sex with at least 28 men over a 5-day period in Hokuriku.
Takimoto stands accused of violating the Anti-prostitution Law and the Child Welfare Law.
During the trial, Takimoto admitted to the charges. During questioning, he claimed to have held a 'supportive' attitude toward the high school girls.
Kaito Takimoto (X) 'I didn't realize they were underage'
The girls were recruited from the 'Gurishita' area, whose name is a reference to the popular meeting place under ( shita ) the popular Glico advertisement in downtown Osaka City.
After offering prostitution roles to the girls, the group members posed as women on dating sites to secure male customers.
The year before, Takimoto was introduced to a job at another sex business by an acquaintance. It turned out to be a similar illegal prostitution ring.
The defendant explained to the court that the ring was run by 'half-gangsters' and decided to 'go independent' after he had heard complaints from the women. 'I had to be with them'
Takimoto also said that he had spent his childhood with his grandmothers, not his parents. He compared his own situation to that of the high school girls, who had run away from home. 'I understood how they felt,' he said, 'and I felt I had to be with them. I didn't realize they were underage.'
He knew the girls had said they had 'at least reached their limit.' But he explained, 'I didn't force them, I just told them to keep going at a pace that they could continue.' He also explained, 'They said they wanted to work because they needed money to rent a place.' He argued that the prostitution was carried out at the girls' wishes.
However, the prosecution pointed out that the defendants received 'the majority of the compensation.' They collected between 15,000 yen and 20,000 yen per session. However, the two victims earned a total of only 2.2 million yen.
The prosecution seeking a prison sentence of two and a half years and a fine of 300,000 yen, citing 'despicable and vicious crimes.' In its closing remarks the prosecution said the defendant 'controlled and used the girls as tools to make money.'
Takimoto said, 'I'm sorry. It was the girls who suffered the most.' The defendant, who occasionally choked up in the courtroom as he expressed his regret and utter his apology for the crimes, will be sentenced by the court on July 2.
