NAGOYA, JAPAN — Prosecutors in the Nagoya District Court have opened a chilling case against a 44-year-old man, alleging he orchestrated the death of a young woman by forcing her to consume a lethal volume of alcohol. Itaya Hiroki faces charges of indecent assault causing death and kidnapping following the May 2023 incident that claimed the life of a 25-year-old woman.
The prosecution alleges that on May 7, 2023, Hiroki—a regular at a bar in Nagoya’s Naka Ward—pressured the victim into drinking 32 shots of tequila within a 90-minute window. The woman, whose identity has been withheld, later died from hypoxic encephalopathy resulting from acute alcohol poisoning.
A Predatory Scheme Alleged
According to court filings and opening statements delivered on Monday, March 2, Hiroki initiated contact by asking a bar employee to introduce him to the victim. Prosecutors contend that Hiroki’s primary motive was to incapacitate the woman for the purpose of sexual assault.
Despite the victim allegedly refusing his initial advances and hotel invitations, the prosecution claims Hiroki used the woman’s polite nod regarding her ability to drink as a catalyst to order a relentless stream of tequila.
Evidence presented to the court includes:
- Testimony of Coercion: Witnesses allege Hiroki repeatedly asked, “You can still drink, right?” to pressure the victim.
- Physical Harassment: Reports indicate Hiroki made unwanted sexual advances during the drinking session, including touching the woman inappropriately over her clothing.
- Transport to Hotel: After the victim became severely intoxicated, Hiroki reportedly moved her to a hotel via taxi.
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The Defense and Court Testimony
Hiroki has entered a plea of not guilty to the most serious charges. While he admitted in court to encouraging the woman to drink, he vehemently denied any sexual or predatory intent.
“It is true I encouraged her to drink, but I didn’t have any sexual intent,” Hiroki told the court, according to local reports.
Defense arguments suggest that Hiroki abandoned his efforts to engage with the woman once he realized the severity of her physical distress at the hotel. However, medical records indicate the damage was already done. The victim was found collapsed in the hotel room and remained in a critical state until she was pronounced dead on June 21, 2023.
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Legal Implications: “Indecent Assault Causing Death”
This case highlights a rigorous application of Japanese statutes regarding “Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault” (AFSA). By charging Hiroki with indecent assault causing death, prosecutors are asserting that the act of forcing consumption was the direct instrument of the crime.
| Key Trial Facts | Details |
| Defendant | Itaya Hiroki, 44 |
| Quantity Consumed | 32 tequila shots in 90 minutes |
| Cause of Death | Hypoxic encephalopathy (Acute alcohol poisoning) |
| Location | Naka Ward, Nagoya, Japan |
Looking Ahead
The trial is expected to continue through the coming weeks as the Nagoya District Court hears from medical experts regarding the timeline of the victim’s incapacitation. The verdict will likely hinge on whether the court views the 32 shots as a consensual social activity or a deliberate “chemical restraint” used to facilitate a felony.
If convicted, Hiroki faces a significant prison sentence under Japan’s strict laws governing fatal indecent acts.
