Tokyo police have arrested a 39-year-old man and two women for allegedly secretly filming sexual encounters with multiple women and uploading the footage to an online video-sharing platform, investigators said on Tuesday.
The suspects have been identified as Yohei Ono, his wife Haruka Ono, 28, and his common-law wife Rin, 23, who is also reportedly his adopted daughter. The three are believed to have been living together in a polygamous-style household in Tokyo.
According to investigative sources, the group is suspected of secretly recording sexual acts between Ono and a woman in her 20s in July last year. Cameras were allegedly set up in advance in a hotel room in the Kabukicho nightlife district of Shinjuku Ward. Ono is believed to have met the woman through social media.
After the sexual encounter, Haruka and Rin allegedly entered the hotel room and demanded approximately ¥3 million in consolation money from the woman, police said.
Authorities believe the suspects made a living primarily by selling secretly recorded sex videos. More than 800 such videos, reportedly involving around 100 women, were found during a search of their residence. The trio is also suspected of distributing the content through an online platform known as “myfans.”
Police believe similar schemes were carried out repeatedly from 2022 onward.
Ono had previously been arrested on November 26 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of confining a woman under the age of 20 for about two months in a condominium in Shinjuku Ward. The woman reportedly met Ono through social media and was gradually subjected to violence. Investigators say Ono threatened to kill her if she tried to escape.
The case came to light when the woman managed to flee the apartment and seek help at a police station. During a search of the confinement site, police seized 37 smartphones, three laptop computers, handcuffs, collars and a stun gun, which are believed to have been used in the confinement.
Ono’s mother, who is in her 60s and is believed to have visited the apartment, told reporters, “I went to my son’s home to do housework, but suddenly I couldn’t get in touch with him. I don’t even know why he was arrested.”
Police are continuing their investigation into the case and are examining whether there may be additional victims.