Latest news with #Kitagawa
Japan Today
11-08-2025
- Japan Today
'My boss raped me': Japanese prosecutor's fight for justice
"Hikari" (not her real name) alleges she was raped by her former boss, the former head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office By Natsuko FUKUE Very few women in Japan speak out about rape, and Hikari, too, kept quiet for years about her alleged assault by her boss, Osaka's former chief prosecutor. However, Hikari (not her real name) finally dared to take the step, which came at great cost to her career -- she is also a prosecutor -- and her personal life. She does not regret it. "My life has stopped since the assault," Hikari told AFP in an emotional interview. "My husband was crying the other day, in a voice that I have never heard in my life, punching the wall and saying he cannot take it anymore." Hikari alleges that Kentaro Kitagawa, then head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office, raped her following an after-work party in 2018. Kitagawa was not arrested until June 2024, later charged and his name made public. He told an initial hearing in October that he had "no intention of fighting the case" and apologized for "causing serious and severe harm to the victim". However, he changed his tune in December when his lawyer told reporters that Kitagawa "did not recognize that (Hikari) was unable to resist... and believed that she had consented". Kitagawa, according to one media report, changed his mind after Hikari held a news conference and alleged that the prosecution had leaked information from the investigation. 'A nightmare' Hikari says she was not used to drinking strong alcohol and lost her memory halfway through the office gathering. Colleagues told prosecutors that she got into a taxi to go home and that Kitagawa forced himself into the vehicle. The next thing she knew, she said, she was in Kitagawa's home and was being raped. "It was like I was having a terrible nightmare," Hikari told AFP. "I couldn't resist because I was terrified that I could be killed." Hikari said she kept quiet after it happened. Kitagawa had pleaded with her not to go public, saying that it would be a damaging scandal for the prosecutor's office, she said, and even threatened suicide. He retired about a year after the incident but Hikari felt he still had influence over some officials and could hurt her career. "He was a very influential and powerful man, so I was afraid that no one would listen to me if I complained about the assault," she said. The trauma still gnawed away at her. Finally, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and taking time off work, she filed her case in 2024. "In order to live, to get back to a peaceful life with my family, and to get back to my job as a prosecutor, I felt that (Kitagawa) needed to be brought to justice," she said. "I just want to work in a safe environment... I want to save victims through work," she said. She returned to work in September, only to find that malicious rumors were circulating. These included identifying her as the victim -- her name had not been made public -- and that she had been attracted to Kitagawa, consented to sex and was not drunk. Hikari believes the rumors were spread by people close to Kitagawa. She has been on leave ever since. She said her husband, with whom she has a child, is her biggest supporter but that he "is struggling with how to save me". Face hidden Kitagawa's lawyer has not responded to an AFP request for comment sent on June 30. Hikari hasn't revealed her name and has held news conferences and interviews on the condition that her face won't be shown. A handful of other victims of similar crimes have gone further. These include journalist Shiori Ito, who won a landmark civil case against a prominent TV reporter she accused of raping her. In 2021, Rina Gonoi accused fellow soldiers of sexual assault and three of them were later given suspended sentences. Both women were praised for their bravery in coming forward but also received a barrage of online hate. The latest government figures show that 8.1 percent of Japanese women, or one in 12.5, have had non-consensual sex. Just 1.5 percent contacted police and 55.4 percent stayed silent. However, Seisen University Professor Kaori Okamoto said that now "the idea that it's okay to talk about sexual violence is spreading". Okamoto, a clinical psychologist who has been helping victims, said the number of people consulting support centres is also increasing. Even though there is no major #MeToo movement like those in the United States and South Korea, modest-sized rallies against sexual violence sprang up across Japan after several alleged rapists were acquitted in 2019. Law changes have also helped. The definition of rape was broadened in 2017, while the need for victims to prove violence or intimidation was removed in 2023. "In the past, many thought that even if you report the assault, you're only going to get hurt and you're not going to catch the culprit," Okamoto said. Career ladder Hikari said sexual harassment is "rampant" in the Japanese legal world. Public records show that 21 people at prosecutors' offices have been disciplined for sexual violence in the past 16 years, she said. "Officials feel they can do anything as they climb the career ladder," Hikari said. "The prosecutors have no shareholders, no sponsors and no external pressure." Her supporters submitted a petition to the government in January calling for a long prison sentence for Kitagawa and strict punishment for the assistant prosecutor. The petition has more than 68,000 signatures. "The reason I still continue to speak publicly is because I want to keep saying that the victims are not at fault," Hikari said. "I don't know your faces, but at least I want to say that I'm by your side." © 2025 AFP
Malay Mail
11-08-2025
- Malay Mail
‘My boss raped me': Japanese prosecutor breaks silence on former superior
OSAKA, Aug 11 — Very few women in Japan speak out about rape, and Hikari, too, kept quiet for years about her alleged assault by her boss, Osaka's former chief prosecutor. However, Hikari (not her real name) finally dared to take the step, which came at great cost to her career — she is also a prosecutor — and her personal life. She does not regret it. 'My life has stopped since the assault,' Hikari told AFP in an emotional interview. 'My husband was crying the other day, in a voice that I have never heard in my life, punching the wall and saying he cannot take it anymore,' she said. Hikari alleges that Kentaro Kitagawa, then head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office, raped her following an after-work party in 2018. Kitagawa was not arrested until June 2024, later charged and his name made public. He told an initial hearing in October that he had 'no intention of fighting the case' and apologised for 'causing serious and severe harm to the victim'. However, he changed his tune in December when his lawyer told reporters that Kitagawa 'did not recognise that (Hikari) was unable to resist... and believed that she had consented'. Kitagawa, according to one media report, changed his mind after Hikari held a news conference and alleged that the prosecution had leaked information from the investigation. 'A nightmare' Hikari says she was not used to drinking strong alcohol and lost her memory halfway through the office gathering. Colleagues told prosecutors that she got into a taxi to go home and that Kitagawa forced himself into the vehicle. The next thing she knew, she said, she was in Kitagawa's home and was being raped. This photo taken on May 27, 2025 shows a security guard walking outside the government building housing the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office in the city of Osaka. — AFP pic 'It was like I was having a terrible nightmare,' Hikari told AFP. 'I couldn't resist because I was terrified that I could be killed.' Hikari said she kept quiet after it happened. Kitagawa had pleaded with her not to go public, saying that it would be a damaging scandal for the prosecutor's office, she said, and even threatened suicide. He retired about a year after the incident but Hikari felt he still had influence over some officials and could hurt her career. 'He was a very influential and powerful man, so I was afraid that no one would listen to me if I complained about the assault,' she said. 'Safe environment' The trauma still gnawed away at her. Finally, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and taking time off work, she filed her case in 2024. 'In order to live, to get back to a peaceful life with my family, and to get back to my job as a prosecutor, I felt that (Kitagawa) needed to be brought to justice,' she said. 'I just want to work in a safe environment... I want to save victims through work,' she said. She returned to work in September, only to find that malicious rumours were circulating. Hikari alleges that Kentaro Kitagawa, then head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office, raped her following an after-work party in 2018. — AFP pic These included identifying her as the victim — her name had not been made public — and that she had been attracted to Kitagawa, consented to sex and was not drunk. Hikari believes the rumours were spread by people close to Kitagawa. She has been on leave ever since. She said her husband, with whom she has a child, is her biggest supporter but that he 'is struggling with how to save me'. Face hidden Kitagawa's lawyer has not responded to an AFP request for comment sent on June 30. Hikari hasn't revealed her name and has held news conferences and interviews on the condition that her face won't be shown. A handful of other victims of similar crimes have gone further. These include journalist Shiori Ito, who won a landmark civil case against a prominent TV reporter she accused of raping her. In 2021, Rina Gonoi accused fellow soldiers of sexual assault and three of them were later given suspended sentences. Both women were praised for their bravery in coming forward but also received a barrage of online hate. The latest government figures show that 8.1 per cent of Japanese women, or one in 12.5, have had non-consensual sex. Just 1.5 per cent contacted police and 55.4 per cent stayed silent. This photo taken on May 27, 2025 shows 'Hikari' holding a petition submitted in January by supporters with over 58,000 signatures calling for a thorough investigation, during an interview with AFP in the city of Osaka, Osaka prefecture. — AFP pic However, Seisen University Professor Kaori Okamoto said that now 'the idea that it's okay to talk about sexual violence is spreading'. Okamoto, a clinical psychologist who has been helping victims, said the number of people consulting support centres is also increasing. Even though there is no major #MeToo movement like those in the United States and South Korea, modest-sized rallies against sexual violence sprang up across Japan after several alleged rapists were acquitted in 2019. Law changes have also helped. The definition of rape was broadened in 2017, while the need for victims to prove violence or intimidation was removed in 2023. 'In the past, many thought that even if you report the assault, you're only going to get hurt and you're not going to catch the culprit,' Okamoto said. Career ladder Hikari said sexual harassment is 'rampant' in the Japanese legal world. Public records show that 21 people at prosecutors' offices have been disciplined for sexual violence in the past 16 years, she said. 'Officials feel they can do anything as they climb the career ladder,' Hikari said. 'The prosecutors have no shareholders, no sponsors and no external pressure,' she said. Her supporters submitted a petition to the government in January calling for a long prison sentence for Kitagawa and strict punishment for the assistant prosecutor. The petition has more than 68,000 signatures. 'The reason I still continue to speak publicly is because I want to keep saying that the victims are not at fault,' Hikari said. 'I don't know your faces, but at least I want to say that I'm by your side.' — AFP
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Japan open to nuclear energy collaboration with Malaysia, Asean nations
KUALA LUMPUR: Japan is open to collaborating with Asean countries, including Malaysia, on civilian nuclear energy as part of a broader commitment to decarbonisation and sustainable development across the region. Japanese Foreign Ministry press secretary Kitagawa Toshihiro said Tokyo was ready to provide a range of support for Asean nations to meet decarbonisation goals. "Japanese companies are quite interested in promoting nuclear, especially focusing on small nuclear reactors. "Most recently, with Canada, we have decided to promote such small nuclear reactors. Why not with Asean countries?" he said at a briefing session with members of the press last night. Kitagawa added that, as Vietnam and Japan have already agreed to collaborate in civilian nuclear energy, the Japanese government welcomed further discussions with other Asean nations, including Malaysia. Kitagawa highlighted that any expansion of nuclear use must come with robust regulation and oversight. "We strongly believe that the proliferation of nuclear power should be strictly controlled by the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)," he said. Japan, he added, continues to support peaceful uses of nuclear power while advocating for strict supervision by international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure safety and compliance. Additionally, Japan is also backing major regional initiatives such as the Asean Power Grid and aims to strengthen ties through Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) by offering technical and financial support to help Asean economies decarbonise without sacrificing development through transitional power sources such as ammonia and hydrogen. Yesterday, Malaysia and the United States signed the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation (NCMOU) aimed at advancing cooperation between the two countries on peaceful nuclear development at the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. According to the US State Department, Malaysia and the United States have also launched negotiations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
The Mainichi
05-07-2025
- The Mainichi
Osaka prosecutor who accused boss of rape faces backlash
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- In Japan, prosecutors are powerful public officials who are meant to protect the public from rapists and other criminals. But what if the chief prosecutor is an accused rapist himself? That's the explosive charge leveled by Hikari (a pseudonym), a female prosecutor with the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office who says she was raped by her boss in 2018. Her pain did not end after the alleged attack. She says it got worse due to a campaign by former chief prosecutor Kentaro Kitagawa and others to silence her, and a colleague who slandered her by spreading rumors claiming she had romantic feelings for Kitagawa. Hikari's quest for justice is the latest MeToo case in Japan involving women who refused to be silenced after being assaulted by establishment figures. They include filmmaker Shiori Ito and former Ground Self-Defense Force member Rina Gonoi. Kitagawa, 65, has been indicted and initially admitted the rape charge, but later recanted, saying the sexual encounter was consensual. On May 21, Hikari -- not her real name -- held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo in which she disclosed a handwritten letter she had received from Kitagawa, asking her to keep quiet about what happened. According to the indictment, in September 2018, Hikari drank at a social gathering for work and became intoxicated before trying to catch a taxi. Kitagawa half-forced his way into the vehicle and took Hikari to his official residence where he raped her. A groggy Hikari regained consciousness and pleaded for Kitagawa to stop, but he continued the sexual assault, telling her, "You are my woman now." In an interview with Kyodo News in early May, Hikari said she believes she was "bullied by the prosecutors' organization" into initially not speaking publicly about the incident. She wishes to remain anonymous as she intends to continue her work. Hikari developed post-traumatic stress disorder and was unable to continue work as a prosecutor, a job she loved. In Kitagawa's six-page letter written to Hikari, dated Oct. 28, 2019, he apologizes for the "irreparable damage" his actions caused and for the fact that his apology following the incident was insufficient. But after begging Hikari's forgiveness several times, Kitagawa asks her to keep the rape secret. "If this incident becomes public, I will not be able to live on, and I have decided that I will have no choice but to commit suicide," the letter reads. The scandal would harm Kitagawa and the Public Prosecutors Office, leading to resignations by other high-ranking officials, it adds. At the press conference, Hikari recalled that she was too scared to speak out about what happened. She finally decided she could not live without holding Kitagawa responsible and filed a formal report in February 2024 demanding strict punishment. She said she returned 10 million yen ($70,000) in compensation that Kitagawa had paid her and her husband. "My dignity as a human being and as a prosecutor was trampled on, my body and soul harmonious life with my family, my precious job, the time I had spent working tainted and my future was stolen from me," she said. Kitagawa was arrested in June 2024 on a charge of quasi-forcible sexual intercourse and indicted on the same charge in July. At the first hearing of his trial in October, Kitagawa admitted to the indictment, saying he had "no intention of fighting the case," and apologized for "causing serious and severe harm to the victim." However, the situation took a dramatic turn in December when his new defense council made it clear that Kitagawa would be denying the charge. He suddenly claimed there was consent and no intention to commit a crime. The trial has not been held since he changed his plea to not guilty. Hikari's trauma continues to this day. After returning to work briefly in September 2024, a female deputy prosecutor in the same department, on the same floor, began circulating rumors about the incident and her involvement with Kitagawa. Hikari refers to this as a "secondary rape." According to Hikari, the deputy prosecutor leaked her personal information and details of the sexual assault, and said her victim's report and PTSD claims were fraudulent. Hikari was again forced to take sick leave. Hikari filed claims of defamation and harassment among other charges against the deputy prosecutor, but the woman was not charged and only received a warning. Hikari and her lawyer are preparing to file a review with the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, claiming the decision not to prosecute the deputy prosecutor is unjust. She is also calling for the establishment of an independent committee to review the responses to her case. "Harassment is rampant in the Public Prosecutors Office," she said. "I believe that both the Kitagawa case and the further accusations by the deputy public prosecutor are the result of this kind of prosecutorial terrain." In an email to Hikari's lawyer, a high-ranking official of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office said the office stands by its decision not to pursue a case against the deputy prosecutor based on the law and evidence. The official also argues further that publicly speaking about the incident "undermines the credibility of the office." "This is not an attempt to keep her quiet or a threat, but an obvious request, so we ask that she refrain from saying she has been told to shut up or threatened," the official said. (By Aya Tamura)
Kyodo News
30-06-2025
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Osaka prosecutor who accused boss of rape faces backlash
By Aya Tamura, KYODO NEWS - 9 minutes ago - 09:05 | All, Japan, Feature In Japan, prosecutors are powerful public officials who are meant to protect the public from rapists and other criminals. But what if the chief prosecutor is an accused rapist himself? That's the explosive charge leveled by Hikari, a female prosecutor with the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office who says she was raped by her boss in 2018. Her pain did not end after the alleged attack. She says it got worse due to a campaign by former chief prosecutor Kentaro Kitagawa and others to silence her, and a colleague who slandered her by spreading rumors claiming she had romantic feelings for Kitagawa. Hikari's quest for justice is the latest MeToo case in Japan involving women who refused to be silenced after being assaulted by establishment figures. They include filmmaker Shiori Ito and former Ground Self-Defense Force member Rina Gonoi. Kitagawa, 65, has been indicted and initially admitted the rape charge, but later recanted, saying the sexual encounter was consensual. On May 21, Hikari -- not her real name -- held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo in which she disclosed a handwritten letter she had received from Kitagawa, asking her to keep quiet about what happened. According to the indictment, in September 2018, Hikari drank at a social gathering for work and became intoxicated before trying to catch a taxi. Kitagawa half-forced his way into the vehicle and took Hikari to his official residence where he raped her. A groggy Hikari regained consciousness and pleaded for Kitagawa to stop, but he continued the sexual assault, telling her, "You are my woman now." In an interview with Kyodo News in early May, Hikari said she believes she was "bullied by the prosecutors' organization" into initially not speaking publicly about the incident. She wishes to remain anonymous as she intends to continue her work. Hikari developed post-traumatic stress disorder and was unable to continue work as a prosecutor, a job she loved. In Kitagawa's six-page letter written to Hikari, dated Oct. 28, 2019, he apologizes for the "irreparable damage" his actions caused and for the fact that his apology following the incident was insufficient. But after begging Hikari's forgiveness several times, Kitagawa asks her to keep the rape secret. "If this incident becomes public, I will not be able to live on, and I have decided that I will have no choice but to commit suicide," the letter reads. The scandal would harm Kitagawa and the Public Prosecutors Office, leading to resignations by other high-ranking officials, it adds. At the press conference, Hikari recalled that she was too scared to speak out about what happened. She finally decided she could not live without holding Kitagawa responsible and filed a formal report in February 2024 demanding strict punishment. She said she returned 10 million yen ($70,000) in compensation that Kitagawa had paid her and her husband. "My dignity as a human being and as a prosecutor was trampled on, my body and soul harmonious life with my family, my precious job, the time I had spent working tainted and my future was stolen from me," she said. Kitagawa was arrested in June 2024 on a charge of quasi-forcible sexual intercourse and indicted on the same charge in July. At the first hearing of his trial in October, Kitagawa admitted to the indictment, saying he had "no intention of fighting the case," and apologized for "causing serious and severe harm to the victim." However, the situation took a dramatic turn in December when his new defense council made it clear that Kitagawa would be denying the charge. He suddenly claimed there was consent and no intention to commit a crime. The trial has not been held since he changed his plea to not guilty. Hikari's trauma continues to this day. After returning to work briefly in September 2024, a female deputy prosecutor in the same department, on the same floor, began circulating rumors about the incident and her involvement with Kitagawa. Hikari refers to this as a "secondary rape." According to Hikari, the deputy prosecutor leaked her personal information and details of the sexual assault, and said her victim's report and PTSD claims were fraudulent. Hikari was again forced to take sick leave. Hikari filed claims of defamation and harassment among other charges against the deputy prosecutor, but the woman was not charged and only received a warning. Hikari and her lawyer are preparing to file a review with the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, claiming the decision not to prosecute the deputy prosecutor is unjust. She is also calling for the establishment of an independent committee to review the responses to her case. "Harassment is rampant in the Public Prosecutors Office," she said. "I believe that both the Kitagawa case and the further accusations by the deputy public prosecutor are the result of this kind of prosecutorial terrain." In an email to Hikari's lawyer, a high-ranking official of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office said the office stands by its decision not to pursue a case against the deputy prosecutor based on the law and evidence. The official also argues further that publicly speaking about the incident "undermines the credibility of the office." "This is not an attempt to keep her quiet or a threat, but an obvious request, so we ask that she refrain from saying she has been told to shut up or threatened," the official said. Related coverage: Ex-chief Osaka public prosecutor pleads guilty to rape of colleague Ex-chief public prosecutor arrested for raping colleague in Osaka
