Funabashi child guidance worker arrested over groping of student on JR Sobu Line train
In short
Tokyo police have arrested Mitsuhashi (三橋洸大), 35, an employee of a child guidance centre in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of touching a female high school student's chest on a crowded JR Sobu Line train on September 16. Police believe he targeted the same student repeatedly since October last year; he admitted the allegations and, according to the reports, said he had done it dozens of times, with one outlet quoting him as saying about 80 times.
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Tokyo police have arrested Mitsuhashi (三橋洸大), 35, an employee of a child guidance centre in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of sexually touching a female high school student on a crowded JR Sobu Line train, Nippon TV, TBS and the Mainichi Shimbun reported on October 9. The Mainichi said the Metropolitan Police Department's Hisamatsu station announced on the 9th that it had arrested him on suspicion of non-consensual indecency. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
He is suspected of putting his hand inside the student's clothes and touching her chest on a Sobu Line train in September; TBS said he also touched her lower body. TBS and the Mainichi gave the date as September 16, and the Mainichi put the time at about 7:30 a.m., on a Sobu Line rapid train between Kinshicho and Bakurocho. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Police believe he targeted the same student repeatedly since October last year. Nippon TV and TBS reported that he admitted the allegations. Accounts of his statements differ: Nippon TV quoted him as saying he did it to satisfy sexual desire and about 80 times so far; TBS quoted him as saying he had done it dozens of times since October last year; the Mainichi quoted him as saying he did it knowing she could not resist, and dozens of times or more. TBS said police believe there are further offences. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The outlets said he waited for the student at a station, which Nippon TV described as the station she uses to commute to school and TBS as the ticket gate of the station nearest her home, then boarded the same carriage and acted when the train became full. The Mainichi said he appeared to have waited for her before going to work and on his days off. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
TBS and the Mainichi said the case came to light when a station employee, told by the student, contacted police; the Mainichi said a 110 emergency call was made right after the September 16 incident. According to the Mainichi, on September 18 officers were keeping watch with the student when they saw a man putting his hand inside her clothes and arrested him in the act on suspicion of attempted non-consensual indecency; the man was Mitsuhashi. The paper said the student had tried to resist but was held down with force, and for a year could not tell her family or friends. [ 2 , 4 ]
According to Funabashi city, cited by the Mainichi, he became a city employee in 2013 and had worked on temporary protection duties since the city's child guidance centre opened in July 2026. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The suspect worked at a child guidance centre, and the Mainichi Shimbun reported that he had handled temporary protection work there since the centre opened in July 2026. TBS reported that police believe there are further offences and are investigating.
Key facts
- The suspect is Mitsuhashi (三橋洸大), 35, an employee of a child guidance centre in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He is suspected of touching a female high school student's chest on a JR Sobu Line train in September; TBS and the Mainichi gave the date as September 16. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Mainichi said the incident took place at about 7:30 a.m. on a Sobu Line rapid train between Kinshicho and Bakurocho. [ 4 ]
- He is suspected of waiting for the student at a station, boarding the same carriage and acting when the train became crowded. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Police believe he repeatedly targeted the same student since October last year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The case came to light after a station employee, told by the student, contacted police. [ 2 , 4 ]
- According to the Mainichi, he was arrested in the act on September 18 on suspicion of attempted non-consensual indecency while officers kept watch. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 35-year-old employee of a child guidance centre in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, named Mitsuhashi was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He is suspected of an indecent act against a female high school student on a JR Sobu Line train, including touching her chest. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The arrest was on suspicion of non-consensual indecency. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He is believed to have waited for the student at a station and acted when the train was crowded. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He admitted the allegations. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A station employee who heard from the student reported the case to police. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How many times he committed the acts. Nippon TV quoted him as saying about 80 times, TBS as saying dozens of times since October last year, and the Mainichi as saying dozens of times or more.
- Whether there are further offences. TBS reported that police believe there are further offences and are investigating; no details were given.
- The sequence of arrests. Only the Mainichi reported an earlier arrest in the act on September 18 on suspicion of attempted non-consensual indecency; the other outlets did not mention it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- September 16: the suspect allegedly touches the student inside her clothes on a Sobu Line rapid train between Kinshicho and Bakurocho; a station employee calls police shortly afterwards. [ 4 ]
- October 9: Nippon TV and TBS report the arrest of the Funabashi child guidance centre employee. [ 1 , 2 ]
- October 9: the Mainichi Shimbun reports the Hisamatsu police station's announcement, including the September 18 arrest in the act. [ 4 ]