TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a former president of a talent agency for sexually violating a 15-year-old aspiring female model last year, reports the Sankei Shimbun (May 13).
On September 24, the former head of Sending, a 37-year-old national of the Philippines who goes by the name Jin Tashiro, is alleged to have stripped the clothes off the girl, then a third-year middle school student, and sexually violated her in a company dormitory in Meguro Ward.
Tashiro, who has been charged with violating the Child Welfare Act, has reportedly denied the allegations, telling police that he does not recall the incident.
In August of last year, the suspect met the victim at a fashion show. He told her that she could have successful career in the gravure (pin-up) industry.
After the incident in September, the victim still sought to make her debut as a model and endured repeated sexual violations on approximately 10 occasions over a three-month period.
According to Fuji News Network (May 13), the company, located in the Roppongi entertainment district, routinely demands large fees from girls seeking to work in the entertainment industry. Prospective models who cannot pay are given the option of engaging in a relationship with Tashiro or working at a fuzoku (sex-related) establishment through his recommendation.
Sending served as an agency for the idol group Ange until it broke up earlier this month. The agency also publishes the fashion magazine Jiggy. A fashion show hosted by Sending scheduled for May 2 was abruptly cancelled.
In December, the victim’s mother consulted with police after her daughter had yet to make her debut as a model, according to the Nikkei Shimbun (May 13).
Police are now speaking with other aspiring models who have been victims of Tashiro.
