Legal proceedings against comedian Shinji Saito

Prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court have requested a seven-year prison sentence for Shinji Saito, a former member of the comedy trio Jungle Pocket. The request follows allegations of sexual assault and non-consensual intercourse involving a female co-worker on a filming bus in Shinjuku.

During a closing hearing on August 5, the victim, a woman in her 20s, provided testimony describing how the incident shattered her life and caused lasting PTSD. She described Saito as a ‘monster’ and stated that the encounter destroyed her career as an influencer. The victim further testified that Saito ignored her resistance and attempted to shift responsibility onto her.

The victim also addressed the psychological distress caused by social media commentary, specifically noting that posts by Saito’s wife, Saori Seto, claiming the reports were ‘not unilateral’ led to online harassment. These comments resulted in the victim being publicly accused of being a ‘honey trap,’ causing further character assassination.

Saito has denied the charges, claiming the encounter was consensual and that the woman had shown affection toward him. The prosecution maintains that Saito showed no remorse and poses a risk of re-offending. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on November 16.