Japanese man guilty of abusing daughter only receives 7 year sentence

The Yamagata District Court has delivered a verdict in a case that has shocked the nation, sentencing a man to seven years and six months in prison.

The man, whose name has been withheld to protect the privacy of the victim, had been on trial based on charges of committing indecent acts against his own daughter, who is under the age of 16.

According to the court’s verdict, issued on the 9th of April, the criminal acts occurred in the three years prior to September 2024.

The judgment stated that the man engaged in, amongst other acts, non-consensual sexual intercourse with his daughter, fully aware of her age and legal status as a minor under the age of 16.

In previous court proceedings, the defendant admitted to the charges brought against him.

During the trial it had emerged that the man began to commit indecent acts against her as a “punishment” for not doing her homework.

The man had stated he had noticed his daughters physical growth and began engaging in acts of non-consensual touching, which further escalated over the course of his abuse.

In his testimony, the man reportedly stated that he “was using his sexual desires to vent his stress,” offering a disturbing explanation for his actions.

In another shocking admission, the man also stated that he “felt sexually excited by the sense of guilt.”

The victim’s mother also provided testimony, expressing her profound distress and betrayal upon discovering that her husband was the perpetrator.

During the period in which the crimes took place, the daughter repeatedly told her mother about them and each time this happened the family would discuss it together.

The man apologized to his daughter, however, his crimes continued.

During the trial the mother’s testimony was that, “I didn’t know who to believe” and following the sentencing she further stated, “I felt sorry for my daughter when I found out that it was her husband who had been lying”.

At the sentencing trial held today, Presiding Judge Ko Sasaki of the Yamagata District Court delivered a strong condemnation of the man’s crime.

Judge Sasaki described the defendant’s actions as “despicable” and emphasized the reprehensible nature of the offense committed against his own child.

In announcing the sentence of seven years and six months imprisonment, Judge Sasaki stated: “It is clear that this was a habit and will have a negative impact on the victim’s future, so severe punishment is appropriate”.

The sentencing was intended to reflect the seriousness with which the Japanese legal system treats offenses involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, however some in Japan have accused the judge of being too lenient.

Online opinion varied from simply questioning the length of the sentence to wishing harm upon the abuser, as well as many who believe the crime was serious enough that they should be imprisoned permanently.

While some details were not disclosed to the public due to the nature of the case, the court’s descriptions indicate a severe and significant violation of the victim’s safety and well-being.

Source, Images: TV U Yamagata