Key Facts
• July 9, 2025: First trial held at Kofu District Court.
• Defendant: Kazuhiro Watanabe, 26, company employee from Moriya City, Ibaraki.
• Charges: Non-consensual sexual act with a 12-year-old girl.
• Incident: April 2025, at a hotel in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi.
• Connection: Instagram DM initiated contact in March 2025.
• Relationship: Became romantic after Watanabe’s proposal.
• Meetings: April 19 and 27, 2025, in Yamanashi.
• Defendant’s claim: Aware of the girl’s age but believed consent made it acceptable.
• Prosecution: Stressed psychological harm to the victim, sought a 5-year prison sentence.
• Defense: Highlighted defendant’s remorse and settlement agreement, requested suspended sentence.
• Verdict: Scheduled for August 27, 2025.
Summary
Kazuhiro Watanabe, a 26-year-old company employee, faces charges of non-consensual sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl he met via Instagram. The first trial, held on July 9, 2025, at the Kofu District Court, revealed that Watanabe initiated contact through a direct message in March 2025. The relationship turned romantic, leading to two meetings in Yamanashi in April, where the alleged acts occurred. Watanabe admitted to knowing the girl’s age but claimed mutual consent justified their actions. Prosecutors emphasized the psychological harm inflicted on the victim and sought a 5-year prison sentence, while the defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing Watanabe’s remorse and a settlement agreement. The court’s verdict is expected on August 27, 2025.
