Olympic judo gold medalist Uchishiba gets 5 years for rape

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  • 11

    timeon

    I keep on asking the same question: when the court decides the fate of a person, shouldn't there be some forensic evidence rather than just her word against his? This is horribly scary (same with the chikan on trains)

  • 2

    David Wagner

    Bad for the sport, but as with all things people will soon forget about it. This tendency among sports coaches to hit and scold does nothing to build confidence or motivation. When will they learn?.....

  • 4

    mikihouse

    rapist...what a loser

  • -1

    Nippon Nation

    The way this article was written makes the whole story seem one-sided. Why and how were they in the same room? Whose room was it? Sure. "No" means "no," but how are we to know given the evidence so far?

    Uchishiba claims it was consensual, the lady claims it was rape.

  • 3

    Reckless

    Apparently the judge believed the lady was telling the truth.

  • 5

    timeon

    This is what the judge said: "Judge Tomonao Onizawa said the court "cannot trust at all" claims by Uchishiba that he had consensual sex with the student. The woman's accusation of sexual assault while she was asleep was credible given that she could not stand up on her own after drinking too much alcohol at a restaurant." so basically they were drinking together (illegal for her), she got drunk, went with him to the hotel and they had sex. The point of the rape accusation is how drunk was she. Which is scary, because the borderline is too shaky.

  • 2

    realdoll

    A guy needs his house wired so there is not only video, but audio evidence of what happened in bed.

  • 4

    smithinjapan

    Good on this judge, and I hope it sticks through the appeal. Now, my question is why the guy's wife doesn't grow a backbone and leave the scumbag?

    As for those defending the guy -- how she got in his room is not even the point -- he was her coach, and he she was underage and being plied with alcohol BY the coach, who knew perfectly well she was not of age. Now, if he was committing THAT crime, how is it so hard to believe he would stoop to another, worse one while she was drunk? Keep in mind that in this nation there are still many, many assaults and rapes that go unreported and unpunished because of the stigma attached or pressed onto the victim (often by police). There are no rape-shield laws that I know of, and I know for a fact police will ask a woman about her sexual history and insinuate it had something to do with the rape. For her to speak out like this is courageous, and no ulterior motive has been stated. If it were simply a young woman going after her coach then he would have no doubt stated some sinister plan of hers in his own defense, like, "She wanted me to be her boyfriend but I said no", or, "She wanted to be a higher rank without taking the relevant test, but I declined, so this is her revenge". But no, not a peep.

    I have no doubt some will come on here and blame the woman and claim Uchishida the victim, though.

  • 6

    hoserfella

    A guy needs his house wired so there is not only video, but audio evidence of what happened in bed.

    wrong. a guy needs to have the morals not to get an underage student in his charge sloppy drunk then rape her.

    Stringing this piece of garbage up would have been a good sentence, but 5 years is a surprisingly good result for a Japanese court.

  • 0

    hoserfella

    I have no doubt some will come on here and blame the woman and claim Uchishida the victim, though.

    its already happened, smith.

  • 6

    CrazyJoe

    You shouldn't be having sex with your student in the first place.

  • -3

    Probie

    I have no doubt some will come on here and blame the woman and claim Uchishida the victim, though.

    It's not about blaming her and claiming he's innocent.

    It's about the only evidence being what she said.

    The courts do seem to almost blindly believe what the woman says in "rape" cases.

    Maybe he did rape her, but at least make having real evidence more important than just what someone says.

  • -3

    Crazedinjapan

    Iffy case, how was it they were in the same room together ? Did he break in or did they go together ? Not enough facts released up to the point of where she said she was raped. Polygraph test done ?? I think if he was absolutely guilty and they had actual forensic proof, he wouldn't be going for an appeal.

  • 3

    Tom DeMicke

    I seriously doubt Tokyo will be selected for the Olympics any time soon. Too much stuff going on.

  • 3

    AKBfan

    I believe her.

  • 0

    Juan Rodriguez

    Damn, scary "he says, she says" outcome

  • 1

    Tessa

    a guy needs to have the morals not to get an underage student in his charge sloppy drunk then rape her.

    Thank you, and I totally agree. What he did was indefensible, and I believe everything the victim says. So she was falling-down drunk? Well, we all know what the drinking culture is like in Japan. And what young (Japanese) woman with a promising future would risk public humiliation and the derision of her peers and seniors to make false claims like that? She did a very brave thing by coming forward like that. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other victims, btw. People like him think that they can get away with anything. His gold medal won't get him very far, where he's going.

  • 2

    Vernie Jefferies

    This is definitely not a good week for the reputation of Japanese Judo.

  • 0

    Yubaru

    To the folks asking about forensic evidence: The only way to know if any or not was admitted during the trial one would have had to attend it. Often times Japanese courts do not release the information on how a suspect was convicted, and before coming to any conclusions we have to see what the appeal has to say.

    The other thing though, if he did have sex with her there would be evidence of it, and it would come down to who is more believable, him or her.

  • 4

    Disillusioned

    Yeah, her word against his is pretty much how it is nearly every rape case around the world, sadly. I am in no way defending rape, but it does happen that the girl is does partake willingly and wakes up the morning regretting her actions and screams, "rape!" However, my gut tells me that this guy is a loser and it went down as the girl has stated. Hopefully his appeal is denied and he is made to serve his time.

  • 0

    shirokuma2011

    Speaking of forensic evidence, do they even have or use rape kits when investigating such allegations in Japan (on the rare occasion the alleged victim even goes to the hospital)?

  • 0

    Yubaru

    @disillusioned.........I agree! Well said.

  • 0

    URO

    I am speechless. This is the opposite of martial arts spirit and of sports in general. An athlete worthy of the name is supposed to have nerves of steel, especially in martial arts.

  • -2

    ChibaChick

    I don't know what evidence was presented,but I am pretty sure that, especially here, they don't just hand out 5 year sentences for no good reason. I also agree that this girl didn't seem to have anything to gain from the accusations made, and if anything had a lot to lose.

    shirokuma - my understanding is that they don't, and there is even an article about this on YouTube where a Japanese woman was refused access to a hospital by the police for many hours after the attack and when she finally saw a doctor there was no rape kit available.

    :(

  • -1

    ChibaChick

    there must have been witnesses who could testify she was in no fit state to consent to anything.

  • 0

    lostrune2

    What an injustice! Feel bad for h

  • 0

    Cos

    It's about the only evidence being what she said.

    What he says has counted. He said he DID have sex with her. And she was stoned at that time, according to several witnesses. The debate was "was she consenting while she was passed out ? ". The guy told the judge that all the girls say he looks like Brad Pitt.

  • 1

    Cos

    The point of the rape accusation is how drunk was she.

    Actually he had a bad lawyer. He could have made the judges debate on how drunk HE was. That often works with Japanese justice. The guy bursting in tears : "I did that ? That's horrible. Me ? I did it ?... I don't remember and I want to die. I'm so sorry, so ashamed. ... Oh, that's because I was suffering from depression, so the blue pill, and I drunk grapefruit juice, so just a sip of Asahi and ... no memories at all... ". He'd have got much less.

  • -1

    Fadamor

    OK, an Olympic Gold Medal winner for Judo in two Olympics gets a job coaching... at a Nursing and Social Welfare College? That's the best he could do? Or is that the best he could do with a guaranteed female-majority student population?

    1.) You don't let your underage students get drunk.

    2.) You don't "have relations" with your students - underage or otherwise.

    Sorry. Even though the charge ultimately becomes a "he said/she said", his actions leading up to the questionable act (including where he decided to work) make me side with the victim in this case.

  • -1

    cl400

    He should have received a harsher punishment. No Karma for this guy in jail though... I doubt anyone would try and do the same to a big fella like him.

  • -1

    Crazedinjapan

    For those of you who are so sure he did it.

    Many men in this world let alone Japan have had their names dragged thought the mud. How many times has a woman cried "wolf" and gotten away with it.

    With the rate of forced or coerced confessions in japan and outside influences trying to extort money ...who's to say this girl wasn't out to make a quick dollar of a celebrity ?? Do it or ill say you did this approach ...

    No one on this forum was in the court room right ?? So how can you say he did it without being apart of a investigation where we've seen up to date confessions being "extracted" from said parties ??

    If this was a open and shut case the guy would have to be a total moron to publicly declare a attempt to appeal his sentence . Let the appeal process take place and keep in mind the other article posted today in Japan today about altered documents,bribes..and falsifications done by the Japan police alone.... Nevermind vindictive or opportunistic people.

  • 0

    Fadamor

    Many men in this world let alone Japan have had their names dragged thought the mud. How many times has a woman cried "wolf" and gotten away with it.

    While I'm sure that has happened in other cases, for the reasons I posted above he doesn't get my benefit of the doubt. He let one of his students get drunk and has admitted to having sex with her while she was under the influence of the alcohol. That despicable action makes him morally bankrupt. His claim of "consensual sex" is the rallying cry of acquaintance rapists the world over, so he's going to need more than just that if he wants me to believe him. He dug himself a deep hole that makes a simple "he said/she said" argument not applicable.

  • 0

    Crazedinjapan

    Fad, yes sleeping with his student is outside teachers ethics, sleeping with a drunk partner is also risky. You could get the he said she said statements. But unless you were the fly on the wall or the facts pertaining to this case were released you know nothing other than what the media says.

    You say the rallying cry of rapists around the world ...that's a generalization of all similar cases where men have been convicted or absolved of any wrong doing sometimes after being convicted and losing years of their life...( recent man released from Japanese prison for a rape he didn't commit over ten years ago )

    Lets see what the appeal produces.

    Bottom line is its news and everyone reads then sometimes reflects on past conviction they read about where a innocent person was convicted. Student wrong , drunken relations wrong, guilty on a hearsay ??

  • 2

    Frungy

    This isn't a "he said, she said" case. Here's how I would break it down if I was the judge:

    1. Was she capable of giving consent? - No. He has testimony from plenty of witnesses that she was too drunk to stand up, let alone give consent.

    2. Was the rape premeditated? - Yes. He has testimony that the coach encouraged her to drink, and then took her back to his hotel room (someone who's too drunk to walk can safely be assumed to have been placed there by the coach).

    That's all the prosecution needed to prove, and those are facts that can be verified by external witnesses before the act took place. I'm all for men getting a fair trial and not being found guilty simply because of their gender, but that simply isn't the case here. What the defense would have needed to prove if they wanted him found innocent was that he put her to bed in HER room and she came into his room later and initiated sex while he was likewise intoxicated and his judgement was impaired. Since he admits taking her to his room... well, that's all out the window.

  • -3

    realdoll

    I can tell that there are some young inexperienced guys responding to this thread or some married guys who got married too young.. either way, if you've ever been accused of stalking or rape or something similar by a girl who was lying her ass off... you wouldn't be so quick to condemn this guy. All I'm saying is just because the Judge ruled a certain way, it doesn't mean the Judge is correct.

  • -1

    sfjp330

    I feel sorry for Uchishiba's wife. She should file for divorce. In Japan, women are under heavy social pressure to forgive crap from men and men aren’t socialized to forgive women. Women are more likely to be the more financially dependent on men in a relationship and but still do a disproportionate amount of the emotional work. The relationship is likely to suffer more if the male partner doesn’t have his head in the game.

  • 0

    hoserfella

    > > I can tell that there are some young inexperienced guys responding to this thread or some married guys who got married too young.. either way, if you've ever been accused of stalking or rape or something similar by a girl who was lying her ass off... you wouldn't be so quick to condemn this guy. All I'm saying is just because the Judge ruled a certain way, it doesn't mean the Judge is correct.

    realdoll- let me get this straight. A man would have to be young or inexperienced NOT to have been accused of rape or stalking? Oh dear...

  • -1

    sfjp330

    hoserfella Feb. 02, 2013 - 07:37AM JST All I'm saying is just because the Judge ruled a certain way, it doesn't mean the Judge is correct.

    The legal age for a juvenile is until 20 years old in Japan. He was accused with the rape of 18 or 19 years old girl. Was she considered minor or adult? And what is the difference in sentences, if found guilty between minor rape and adult rape for the same crime in Japan? Would the sentence for Uchishiba would be less if she was 20 years old?

  • -1

    realdoll

    realdoll- let me get this straight. A man would have to be young or inexperienced NOT to have been accused of rape or stalking? Oh dear...

    Yep and along with age comes a lot of experience and wisdom.. maybe not personal experience but things that happen to friends and associates, knowledge of injustices etc. Nothing to stop a girl from crying rape and then where are you at? All the no nothing citizens out there attacking you and not believeing you. She was of legal age for sex, underaged for drinking. He should have gotten 5 yrs probation.

  • 0

    Jotter Verhaeghe

    Again an article will never be enough to solve the mystery, but... -Certainly if the Judo club is on a visit to Tokyo, there must be a special reason for the coach to go drinking with just one student. This would mean that they were at least 'dating' or trying to. -Giving drinks to a minor is illegal, which is strike one -Having a relationship or sex (either one) when in a position of power and married is highly doubtful, which is strike two -The relationship turned sour and affected the student's sense of justness enough for her to cry out. Strike three. If the rape happened, then the sentence is just. If it didn't happen it is likely that the guy does deserve some punishment, but 5 years is harsh.

    The only way in which he would be completely innocent is, if it was a setup by the whole judo team and she was just playing drunk or if she kept dating with him and then broke it off later.

  • -1

    hoserfella

    Yep and along with age comes a lot of experience and wisdom.. maybe not personal experience but things that happen to friends and associates, knowledge of injustices etc. Nothing to stop a girl from crying rape and then where are you at? All the no nothing citizens out there attacking you and not believeing you. She was of legal age for sex, underaged for drinking. He should have gotten 5 yrs probation.

    realdoll - Not in the least bit interested that an "associate" of yours (or was it realdoll?) has been accused. Where theres smoke theres fire, especially in Japan where a girl like this usually faces nothing but hardship for coming forward against a superior.

  • 2

    Shanique Smith

    I can't understand why people are asking about forensic evidence. If she was duped and really drunk, her wits would be dulled. I don't see her putting up any physical resistance along with her verbal resistance. I say this to say, based on the state she was in how would forensic determine if it was consensual or rape? Some people like rough sex. Also, since she is underaged, the matter should be treated as rape even if she gave her 'consent'. Selah

  • 1

    globalwatcher

    Rape is a rape.

  • 0

    timtak

    According to Japanese media sources...

    Moderator: The URL will suffice.

  • -2

    Fugacis

    I'm glad it's ended in a conviction, where the guy's gone down for more than a derisory sentence. That alone means that this story has a 'happier' ending than about 97% of rape cases.

    It's also telling, though, that the same posters who were wagging their fingers at us to not brand him guilty because he hadn't been tried yet, and wait for a court verdict, are now out in force disputing the verdict and resorting to whatever shameful tactics they can to poison the well and blame the victim.

    Tip for those people, because apparently you need it: if someone is too drunk to stand on their own two feet, they are too drunk to give consent to sex. If they are passed out, they are DEFINITELY not consenting. Multiple witnesses had been able to tell that she was paralytic and he was plying her with drinks. He then admits that he took her to his room and had sex with her within this time frame. She came forward later presenting Rape Trauma Syndrome. He raped her.

  • -1

    Fugacis

    if you've ever been accused of stalking or rape or something similar by a girl who was lying her ass off... you wouldn't be so quick to condemn this guy.

    Ah yes, the semi-mythical "false rape accusation by jealous and vindictive women", so beloved of rapists, rape apologists and woman haters everywhere. I'll have to dig up the statistics for Japan, but I do know that in the UK false rape allegations account for maybe 1% of the total - less than the false reportage rates for other violent crimes - and they're usually dropped pretty quickly. I'd imagine it's the same for Japan, but in your case this clearly accounts for most rape accusations, because, you know, women...

    Mind you, that's the total for rape accusations; just over half of all rapes are never reported to the authorities in the first place.

    The idea that women would put themselves through the intense social stigma, the spotlight of scrutiny, and the attempted character assassinations of ruthless defence attorneys just for a bit of spite, is frankly absurd, and speaks a lot to society's view of women.

    Also, if you've been accused of stalking and/or rape, realdoll, odds seem good to me that that's exactly what happened. It's just that from your position of privilege and sense of entitlement, you don't see yourself to have been doing anything wrong.

  • 1

    Tessa

    Tip for those people, because apparently you need it: if someone is too drunk to stand on their own two feet, they are too drunk to give consent to sex. If they are passed out, they are DEFINITELY not consenting. Multiple witnesses had been able to tell that she was paralytic and he was plying her with drinks. He then admits that he took her to his room and had sex with her within this time frame. She came forward later presenting Rape Trauma Syndrome. He raped her.

    Yes, this!

    The idea that women would put themselves through the intense social stigma, the spotlight of scrutiny, and the attempted character assassinations of ruthless defence attorneys just for a bit of spite, is frankly absurd, and speaks a lot to society's view of women.

    And this too. Thank you, Fugacis.

    I know quite a few women who have had the above experience of being taken advantage of whilst under the influence (not only in Japan), but I am not acquainted with one women who would go as far as putting herself on the stand to make a false rape accusation. Heck, I wouldn't do it, and I regard myself as a tough bird. My hat's off to the victim.

  • 0

    DigitalFunk

    Good on the judge for not being swayed by the fame and fortune of this rapist. Too many get away with impunity. Far more rapes are unreported than there are fabricated. The young woman was indeed very brave to see this through. No means no, in any language.

  • 0

    yourock

    a rapist is a rapist, regardless of previous achievements. next time pay.

  • 0

    maninjapan79

    He was a teacher , drinking with his underage students. Took her back to his room then had sex with her. From all accounts she was way too drunk to have much of an idea of what was going on. Completely abused his authority and while its his word against gets for the specific details regarding wether or not she tried to stop him the guy deserves 5 years for stupidity and being such a scumbag. And its not like it was a one off thinghe's been a scumbag doing the same thing for years if you know much about the guy. Feel sorry for his wife who has put up with it over the years....

  • 0

    RenegadeGin

    Why the light sentence for a violent crime. It is a heinous crime against a person. Whoever you are and whatever your stature in life is.

  • -3

    LOVEnotWAR

    I have to agree that he is guilty based on the evidence I hear, that she was falling down drunk and that he made her that way and that he took her back to his place in that state.

    However, it would be nice if people would check their moral baggage at the door. The fact that he is married is irrelevant to the question of rape. The fact that she was underage for drinking is irrelevant to the question of rape. The teacher/student relationship is irrelevant and far more than I have heard of rapes, I have heard of marriages. Also, the talk of forensic evidence is off the mark. All forensic evidence would show is that they had sex or that there was violence, but there is no claim of violence and that they had sex is not in dispute. So could we have some focus please? He is not guilty for any of the above.

    All that matters is that she could not consent at the time and did not not even consent post-event. He is guilty of rape.

    However, the punishment of 5 years is over the top. What he did was certainly wrong, but its not like he beat her silly.

  • 0

    hobart_mark

    No, means no....

  • -1

    hoserfella

    However, it would be nice if people would check their moral baggage at the door. The fact that he is married is irrelevant to the question of rape. The fact that she was underage for drinking is irrelevant to the question of rape. The teacher/student relationship is irrelevant and far more than I have heard of rapes, I have heard of marriages. Also, the talk of forensic evidence is off the mark. All forensic evidence would show is that they had sex or that there was violence, but there is no claim of violence and that they had sex is not in dispute. So could we have some focus please? He is not guilty for any of the above.

    LOVEnotWar - Let me get this straight.

    Had forcible sex (rape) with a minor. Not important

    Took advantage of his role as an authority figure. Not important.

    Got her drunk. Not important.

    Didn't beat the hell out of her while raping her = Stand up guy!!

    Got it, thanks.

  • 0

    cramp

    lol LOVEnotWAR...by your standards, all men win!

    thank you

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