Tokyo Massage Parlor Owner Sentenced for Exploiting Minor

In a case that has sent shockwaves across Japan, Masayuki Hosono, a 52-year-old former operator of a massage parlor in Tokyo, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of employing a 12-year-old Thai girl for sexual services. Additionally, he was fined ¥1 million (approximately $6,458) by the Tokyo District Court.

Prosecutors had initially sought a more severe punishment, advocating for a six-year sentence and a ¥2 million fine. The court revealed that Hosono employed the young girl despite her age and exploited her under dire circumstances. The girl, along with her mother, arrived in Japan in June 2025 under a short-term visa. Her mother, who had reportedly abused her, forced the girl into the massage parlor to repay a debt, misleading her by instructing her to claim she was the “20-year-old younger sister” of her mother.

During her time at the parlor, the girl faced exploitation from around 60 customers, earning over ¥600,000, all of which was funneled into a bank account associated with her mother, who had already left Japan. The girl managed to escape in September 2025 and sought help from a Tokyo immigration services center. Meanwhile, her mother was apprehended in Taiwan and deported back to Thailand, where she received a 7½-year prison sentence.

In his ruling, Judge Hiroshi Ikegami condemned the mother for her actions, stating, “The psychological damage she suffered is beyond imagination.” Although Hosono pleaded not guilty, claiming he was unaware of the girl’s age, the court acknowledged that he was partially deceived by the mother. In addition to the charges involving the minor, Hosono was also found guilty of employing another Thai woman without the proper work visa and operating a sex massage parlor without authorization.

Source: www.japantimes.co.jp