Japanese comedian Shinji Saito faces 7‑year prison request for Tokyo bus sexual assault

Prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court have asked for a seven‑year prison term for Shinji Saito, a former member of the comedy trio Jungle Pocket, over a sexual assault that allegedly occurred inside a location‑bus in Shinjuku in July 2024. During the hearing, a woman in her twenties testified in person, describing how the incident shattered her life and expressing that her dignity and emotions had been trampled. The court will deliver its verdict on 16 November.

Saito, who denied the charges, claimed the woman had shown affection toward him, while the prosecution argued that he showed no remorse and posed a risk of re‑offending. The case has attracted significant media attention in Japan, highlighting issues of consent and the accountability of public figures.