A representative of a Japanese talent agency was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a contracted actor, and the fallout is growing as it has emerged that he had been falsifying his entertainment industry credentials.
On the 16th, local media reported that Japanese police arrested talent agency representative Yamanaka Takuma (39) on charges of rape by abuse of authority in the course of business. The case was widely reported by major broadcasters and media outlets, shocking local society.
According to the police, Yamanaka is accused of raping a contracted actor, a woman in her 20s identified as Ms. A, at the agency office located in Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture, and at nearby lodging facilities in August 2023. He is believed to have lured the victim outside under the pretext of saying "let's take a walk," created a situation where they were alone together, and then committed the crime.
The victim reported the incident to the police afterward, and during the investigation she is reported to have given detailed statements about the circumstances at the time. However, Yamanaka has denied the charges in police questioning, saying "there was sexual intercourse but there was no coercion."
When the case became known, Yamanaka's past background also came under scrutiny. He had been presenting himself as a former Johnny's (now Smile Up) member, claiming, "I was active as a junior from age 12 to 20 for about eight years and appeared on stage as a backing dancer for a famous group." In past media interviews he had also described himself as a "former Johnny's–affiliated entertainment manager."
However, after some Japanese outlets asked Smile Up for confirmation, it was verified that Yamanaka had no history of affiliation with that agency. Questions have been raised that he built trust by leveraging supposed connections and experience in the entertainment industry and then used that to carry out the crime.
Locally, the case has been criticized as "a typical abuse-of-power crime exploiting the power structure of the entertainment industry," and calls have continued for thorough investigation into victim protection and whether there are additional victims. Police are expanding the investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the crime and whether there are other offenses.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]