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Tokyo Reported
22-05-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Tokyo cops find 3,000 illicit images belonging to taxi driver suspected of raping dozens of female passengers
TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have revealed that a former taxi driver suspected of drugging and raping dozens of female passengers was in possession of around 3,000 illicit images, reports TBS News (May 22). According to police, the smartphone and other devices belonging to Satoshi Tanaka, 54, show him carrying out obscene acts inside his cab and other other locations with persons believed to be female passengers. Police believe the number of victims in the cause could be around 50. Police this week announced the arrest of Tanaka for allegedly giving sleeping pills to a female passenger in her twenties who was riding in his taxi in July last year. He then took her to her home and sexually assaulted her. Regarding allegations of non-consensual sexual intercourse and violations of the Act on the Punishment of Filming Sexual Acts, Tanaka denied the charges, saying he 'doesn't remember' the matter. Satoshi Tanaka (X) Two other cases In October last year, police first arrested Tanaka for giving another female passenger, aged in her teens, a sleeping pill two months before and stealing her cash and other items. However, he was released pending further action. The victim in the case announced this week was identified when a video of the attack was found on a smartphone belonging to Tanaka that was seized by police. An examination of the woman's hair gave a positive result for sleeping pill ingredients, police said. Police believe the woman was already drunk when she boarded Tanaka's cab. He then used an unspecified means to slip her the sleeping pills. She was identified based on belongings in her home that were visible in the footage. Tanaka was also arrested and indicted in December last year for committing lewd acts with a third woman.
Tokyo Reported
21-05-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Ex-Tokyo taxi driver suspected of drugging, raping dozen female passengers
Ex-Tokyo taxi driver suspected of drugging, raping dozen female passengers TOKYO (TR) – A former taxi driver in custody over the alleged sexual assault of a female passenger has been accused in a second case. Based on evidence collected in the investigation, police believe he carried out the same crime with more than one dozen victims, reports TBS News (May 21). In the latest case, police have accused Satoshi Tanaka, 54, of giving sleeping pills to a female passenger in her twenties who was riding in his taxi in July last year. He then took her to her home and sexually assaulted her. Police did not reveal whether Tanaka admits to allegations of non-consensual sexual intercourse and violations of the Act on the Punishment of Filming Sexual Acts. In October last year, police first arrested Tanaka for giving another female passenger, aged in her teens, a sleeping pill two months before and stealing her cash and other items. However, he was released pending further action. The victim in the latest case was identified when a video of the attack was found on a smartphone belonging to Tanaka that was seized by police. An examination of the woman's hair gave a positive result for sleeping pill ingredients, police said. Police believe the woman was already drunk when she boarded Tanaka's cab. He then used an unspecified means to slip her the sleeping pills. She was identified based on belongings in her home that were visible in the footage. Videos and images that were found on the smartphone showed him committing lewd acts on over a dozen women who are believed to be his passengers. The crimes were carried out at his home and other places. Tanaka was also arrested and indicted in December last year for committing lewd acts with a third woman.
Tokyo Reported
11-05-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Osaka City cordons off popular gathering spot for youths, delinquents amid opening of Expo
OSAKA (TR) – The area known as 'Gurishita' in the Minami entertainment district of Osaka City had been a popular gathering spot for young people, runaways and delinquents. That was until just before April 13, the day of the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which is now taking place Yumeshima, about 10 kilometers away. Just before the opening, Osaka City erected a 16.5-meter-long fence at a cost of approximately 16 million yen. It now cordons off the area under ( shita ) the Glico advertisement, from which Gurishita gets its name. Hundreds of foreign tourists often fill the Ebisubashi Bridge over the Dotonbori canal nearby, which was one reason for the erection of the fence. 'During the Osaka-Kansai Expo, many people from both inside and outside the country are expected to visit Minami,' the city said. 'As part of strengthening and raising awareness of environmental improvement efforts, we will prevent littering caused by people sitting under the bridge.' According to TBS News (May 10), the move highlights the fact that the troubled lives of some young people in the Kansai area are going unnoticed. Osaka City cordoned off Gurishita with a wall before the opening of Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 13 (X) Incidents When the network visited the area for an interview in August 2022, when there were few tourists in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many young people had gathered, complaining that they had no place to stay at home or school. 'I get beaten when I go back to my parents' house,' one person said. 'That's why I ran away from home and stayed at my friend's house. But I've never been reported missing.' Many incidents involving these young people take place. Last month, Osaka Prefectural Police announced the arrest of three men for allegedly recruiting an underage girl from Gurishita and forcing her into prostitution. Two months before that, police arrested a 59-year-old man for allegedly kidnapping a runaway high school boy and taking him to his home. 'I wish adults wouldn't get involved with Gurishita anymore,' one young persons says. 'We all know it's wrong to gather here. But this is the only place we can gather. It's really a place to belong.' 'Floating on the water' Three years later, things are different. Since the installation of the wall, the scenery of Gurishita has changed completely. There are hardly any young people to be seen. One young person tells the network that they have moved about 400 meters away, to a place called 'Floating Garden.' 'Probably because it seems to be floating on the water,' one young person says regarding origin of its name. There are no foreign tourists in the area. It is quiet and still. For the young people here, each of them has their own complicated circumstances for what brought them to wander the streets. 'They've been abused, they have no place to go, they can't go to school, they're socially awkward and can't get along with the other kids, they can't study so they get bullied,' one young person says. 'I wish [the city] would made a place for them to go instead of building a wall.' After the reporter asks if the young people here will look for another place if a wall is also erected here, the young person says, 'That's probably it. Because they don't have a place to go and they're here looking for help, aren't they? They're not here just to make noise and cause trouble, they're here looking for help.' 'If my drugs are confiscated, I'll jump off a building' The reporter notes that young people, both male and female, come to the Floating Garden one after another. The scene is the same as what the network saw three years ago at Gurishita. The reporter notes that the police are already aware of the existence of the Floating Garden. However, no matter how many times the young people are taken into protective custody, they keep coming back. It's a game of cat and mouse. The reporter finds that several people are taking sleeping pills prescribed for insomniacs, which poses the risk of addiction. 'Aren't your parents worried?' the reporter asks one person. 'No. They've given up,' the person says. 'I say things like, 'If my drugs are confiscated, I'll jump off a building.'' The questioning continues: Reporter: 'Why did you come here?' Young person: 'Escaping reality. Overdosing is also escaping reality.' Reporter: 'Is there a reality you want to escape from?' Young person: 'Yes.' Reporter: 'What do you want to escape from?' Young person: 'I can't live with normal people. I can't live with the kids who go to middle school or activity clubs like normal.'
Tokyo Reported
28-04-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Vietnamese national accused of attempted murder in Chiba
CHIBA (TR) – Chiba Prefectural Police have revealed that evidence found at a Narita City home where a male Vietnamese national is suspected of stabbing an elderly couple connects the suspect to the crime, reports TBS News (Apr. 28). At around 6:50 p.m. on March 13, Le Thanh Luan, 32, allegedly broke into the residence and slashed the neck the 74-year-old male occupant with a knife-like object in an attempt to kill him and commit robbery, police said previously. In the latest development, police have revealed that the results of the forensic examination found at the house showed that the DNA type of evidence left at the scene is identical to that of the suspect. Upon his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder, Le denied the allegations. 'I have no idea [about the matter],' the suspect said. Le is also suspected of slashing the neck of the man's 73-year-old wife. She suffered serious injuries, police said. No murder weapon was found at the scene. However, police have seized knives from Le's home and are investigating whether they were used in the crime. The arrest is not the first for Le. At around 4:45 p.m. on April 16, police first apprehended the suspect when he was found with a crowbar in the parking lot of a commercial facility in Narita. He was accused of violating the Act on the Prohibition of Possession of Special Lock-Picking Tools.
