The first trial for defendant Tano Kazuya, 21, in the Ikebukuro, Tokyo forced prostitution case opened. Early on, Japanese internet users glamorized Tano as the "most beautiful criminal," but this trial revealed the concrete details of the crimes, including forcing an employee into prostitution, monitoring with a GPS tracking device, and committing cruel acts.
According to reports by TBS and other Japanese outlets, at the first hearing held on the 10th, Tano admitted to all the charges, including instructing a girls' bar employee where he worked to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors said Tano ordered the victim to solicit prostitution in a park and attached a GPS to the victim's body to track movements in real time.
The victim, a 27-year-old woman, was found to have been forced into prostitution with more than 400 people over three months after joining the establishment where Tano worked in Sep. 2024. Tano hurled verbal abuse at the victim for allegedly lacking job capability, beat the victim with fists and feet, and routinely abused the victim, including forcing the victim to eat gochujang. There were more than 20 confirmed bruises on the victim's body.
In a police interview, the victim said, "I was so exhausted physically and mentally that I couldn't escape," and noted, "I wasn't treated like a human being."
After joining the establishment in Apr. 2023, Tano dropped out of college, was promoted to a manager-level position, and acted as a close aide to store manager Suzuki Maoya, 39. Tano claimed to be in a romantic relationship with the manager.
Immediately after the case became known, Japanese social media highlighted Tano's looks and even created AI characters, fueling a glamorization trend, which drew criticism locally for downplaying the seriousness of a grave crime.