On July 17, it was revealed that the Japan National Football Team’s midfielder Sano Kaishu, 23, had been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on non-consensual sexual intercourse charges for sexually assaulting a woman in her 30’s at a hotel in Tokyo. Sano is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman with two men in their 20’s whom he knew at a hotel in Tokyo in the early hours of July 14. The three men were arrested on the evening of July 14. Sano had just been transferred from Kashima Antlers to Bundesliga Club Mainz.
According to the police, the woman called the police immediately after the assault. The police officer who arrived at the scene found the three on the street near the hotel, asked them to voluntarily accompany him, questioned them and arrested them on the night of July 14. The three ate and drank with the woman and the woman’s acquaintance on the evening of July 13, after which they moved to the hotel. The police are investigating the circumstances.
On July 1, Sano left Kashima Antlers to prepare for an overseas transfer. He travelled to Germany and after a medical check, his transfer to Mainz was announced on July 4 (Japan time). The incident occurred when he temporarily returned to Japan after signing a contract with Mainz.
Mainz said on their official website: “We were surprised by the reports in the Japanese media. Due to the lack of information we cannot comment yet. We are trying to clarify this issue as quickly and comprehensively as possible.” According to local reports, he was due to join Mainz training on July 21. Sano’s office had set a transfer press conference for the suspect online that day, but on the previous day, it said that the press conference had been postponed. His office said on the day that we will refrain from commenting as the investigation is ongoing.
Kashima made adjustments for their match against FC Tokyo on July 20. Normally, players’ interviews are available after practice, but the news has stopped interviews with players and staff. The club said: “The transfer has already been completed, but we are very concerned as it concerns a former player. We are unable to ascertain further details and will keep a close eye on the situation”.
Sano was born on December 30, 2000 in Okayama Prefecture. He joined J2 club Machida in 2019 after graduating from Yonago-kita High School, and transferred to Kashima in December 2022. In November 2023, he was called up to replace injured midfielder Atsuki Ito in the Asian second qualifying round for the World Cup, and made his debut for Japan against Myanmar on November 16 of the same year. His younger brother, midfielder Kodai Sano, 20, was a backup member of the Paris Olympics.
