Japanese actor-director Hideo Sakaki arrested for sexual assault

Initial reports from Japanese sports daily Nikkan Sports on Feb. 20 stated that Sakaki purportedly used the pretext of "acting instruction" to sexually assault a woman in her 20s at a Tokyo apartment in May 2016.

According to the victim's testimony, the two first met in 2015 at a film seminar. They subsequently had multiple encounters.

During a private meeting, Sakaki allegedly made inappropriate advances, saying, "I want to see you naked." He then assaulted her while intoxicated, she charged.

Japanese actor and director Hideo Sakaki. Photo from Japanese music company Oricon

The woman reported the incident in June 2023. Throughout the investigation, Sakaki vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that the encounter was consensual.

Tokyo police, responding to additional accusations from other women, extended their inquiry into these cases.

The scandal led to a widespread boycott by the Japanese audience, prompting Sakaki's management company to terminate their contract with him. The release of Sakaki's movie, Honeymoon, scheduled for 2023, was canceled as a consequence.

In the aftermath of the scandals, Sakaki underwent a divorce. The 54-year-old actor, known for his roles in hit movies such as Versus, Battlefield Baseball, and Alive, faced severe repercussions within the industry.

ETToday, a Taiwanese social media news website, reported the Japanese entertainment industry has been marred by a series of sex scandals, with numerous filmmakers allegedly exploiting their positions to solicit actresses for sexual favors in exchange for work.

Last year, a group of producers, including Kore-eda Hirokazu, Nobuhiro Suwa, Yukiko Sode, and Miwa Nishikawa, issued a joint statement urging directors to refrain from abusing their authority for personal gain and tarnishing the industry's reputation.