Teacher among four men referred to prosecutors over video of 13-year-old girl
In short
Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has sent papers to prosecutors on four men, including a 38-year-old public elementary school teacher in Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Child Pornography Prohibition Act by possessing an obscene video of a then 13-year-old junior high school girl. According to investigative sources, the four bought the video for 5,000 yen from a man who has already been arrested and indicted, and all four have admitted the allegations.
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The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has sent papers to prosecutors on four men, including a public elementary school teacher in Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Child Pornography Prohibition Act by possessing an obscene video of a then 13-year-old junior high school girl, Nippon TV, TBS and Livedoor News reported. The four are a 38-year-old public elementary school teacher, a 37-year-old former private high school teacher, a 50-year-old company executive and a 40-year-old unemployed man. TBS reported that the teacher lives in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, the former teacher in Kokubunji, Tokyo, the executive in Satte, Saitama Prefecture, and the unemployed man in Kita Ward, Tokyo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to investigative sources cited by Nippon TV, in June 2025 the four bought for 5,000 yen and possessed a video of about one hour showing the girl, then a second-year junior high school student, naked and in obscene poses. TBS reported that the men had met the supplier through social media and an adult video sales site, bought the video for 5,000 yen and saved it on hard disks and other devices. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
TBS identified the supplier as Akira Awazu (粟津彰), 51, a former president of an entertainment-related company. He was arrested in January this year on suspicion of filming obscene acts with a 15-year-old junior high school girl and selling the footage as adult video without permission, and was later indicted, TBS reported. Nippon TV reported that the four men commented on his live stream, in which he urged viewers to buy obscene videos, with remarks such as "I've decided to buy the video" and "I'll buy it". It said the four were regular buyers of obscene videos from him who shared the same sexual interests, and that two of them, including the elementary school teacher, are believed to have formed a social media group called Bishojo Kenkyujo (美少女研究所) where they sent each other impressions of the videos. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The 50-year-old company executive is also suspected of buying underwear belonging to a then 17-year-old high school girl for 20,000 yen. The outlets differ on the seller: Nippon TV reported that he bought it from the girl, while TBS reported that in August last year he paid Awazu 20,000 yen in cash for four items of underwear that Awazu had obtained from the girl by giving her money, a suspected violation of a Tokyo youth ordinance. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
All four admitted the allegations during voluntary questioning, according to investigative sources. Nippon TV quoted the former private high school teacher as saying he understood that viewing or possessing uncut videos of minors was a problem in terms of common sense and ethics. The elementary school teacher was quoted as saying that he deleted the video after seeing news that the provider had been arrested, but had watched it at least once or twice and had at times felt sexually aroused. Nippon TV reported that police have searched the four men's homes, found several videos believed to show other girls in the possession of three of them, and are continuing the investigation. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Two of the four men are a serving public elementary school teacher and a former private high school teacher. Nippon TV reported that police found several videos believed to show other girls at the homes of three of the men and are continuing their investigation.
Key facts
- The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sent papers to prosecutors on four men on suspicion of violating the Child Pornography Prohibition Act. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The four are a 38-year-old public elementary school teacher in Chiba Prefecture, a 37-year-old former private high school teacher, a 50-year-old company executive and a 40-year-old unemployed man. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- They are suspected of possessing an obscene video of a then 13-year-old junior high school girl, which they bought for 5,000 yen. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- TBS reported that the video was filmed and supplied by Akira Awazu (粟津彰), 51, a former president of an entertainment-related company who was arrested in January this year and later indicted. [ 4 ]
- The 50-year-old company executive is also suspected of buying underwear belonging to a then 17-year-old high school girl for 20,000 yen. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- All four admitted the allegations during voluntary questioning, according to investigative sources. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Two of the men, including the elementary school teacher, are believed to have formed a social media group called Bishojo Kenkyujo (美少女研究所) to exchange impressions of the videos. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police sent papers to prosecutors on four men, including a public elementary school teacher in Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Child Pornography Prohibition Act. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The four are suspected of possessing an obscene video of a then 13-year-old junior high school girl that they bought for 5,000 yen. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The man who supplied the video has already been arrested and indicted. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The 50-year-old company executive is also suspected of buying underwear belonging to a then 17-year-old high school girl for 20,000 yen. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- All four admitted the allegations in voluntary questioning. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- From whom the company executive bought the underwear. Nippon TV reported that he bought it from the 17-year-old girl, while TBS reported that he bought four items of underwear from Awazu, who had obtained them from the girl by giving her money.
- Whom the videos found at three of the men's homes show. Nippon TV reported only that they are believed to show other girls and that the investigation is continuing.
- Whether prosecutors will indict the four men. The documents do not say.