Hayato Mishima sentenced to 16 years for sexual offenses

The Yokohama District Court has sentenced Hayato Mishima, a former catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, to 16 years in prison. Mishima was convicted on 10 counts, including non-consensual sexual intercourse and violations of laws regarding the filming of sexual acts.

Between February and June 2025, Mishima targeted nine young women, mostly strangers walking on the streets of Yokohama. The victims ranged in age from their teens to their 20s, including a high school freshman whom he assaulted and filmed. In another incident, he allegedly caused physical injury to a 24-year-old woman.

During the trial, Mishima stated he viewed women as “enemies” and attributed his actions to stress from family and marital issues. While his defense argued for leniency based on a rehabilitation plan and settlements with some victims, the presiding judge, Takao Sato, rejected these claims. The court noted that Mishima is a repeat offender with two prior sexual crime convictions and acted out of selfish desire without remorse.