By NATSUNO OTAHARA/ Staff Writer
January 9, 2026 at 15:52 JST
Police officers escort Akira Awazu out of a police station in Tokyo's Adachi Ward on Jan. 9 as he is taken to a prosecutors' office. (Tatsuro Kanai)
Tokyo police have arrested an executive of a company that manages fan clubs and organizes events on suspicion of producing and selling an adult video involving a 15-year-old girl, investigators announced Jan. 8.
Akira Awazu, 51, an executive of Tokyo-based Kakeru Entertainment Inc., is accused of violating Japan’s child exploitation laws through nonconsensual sexual intercourse.
Awazu has reportedly denied parts of the charges, telling investigators he believed the junior high school student was 18.
Police sources say that despite allegedly knowing she was under 16, Awazu filmed himself engaging in sexual acts with the girl at a hotel in the capital’s Kabukicho district, known for its nightlife and entertainment venues, in early July.
He is accused of paying the girl 40,000 yen ($254) before recording the encounter and later selling the footage as an adult video.
Investigators say Awazu also faces charges for violating Japan's porn regulation law that require producers to give performers written contracts detailing what sexual acts will be filmed, regardless of age or gender. Police assert he failed to provide such documentation.
Awazu reportedly told the girl that her face would be altered using artificial intelligence-based technology, but police say the editing was minimal and left her identifiable. Meanwhile, Awazu concealed his own face while appearing as the male performer.
The case came to light in mid-July when officers questioned a teenage girl who frequented Kabukicho and she disclosed details that led police to uncover the alleged exploitation.
Awazu has admitted to repeatedly approaching women in Kabukicho or contacting them via social media to recruit them for similar pornographic shoots since around July 2024. He acted as both director and performer.
“I gave in to my own sexual desires,” he reportedly told investigators.
Police believe Awazu earned at least 10 million yen in sales from January to October last year by distributing the videos.
A search of his home uncovered hard drives containing approximately 1,700 explicit videos featuring girls and young women believed to be in their teens to 20s.
Kakeru Entertainment has dismissed Awazu from the company. In a statement released Jan. 9, the company said that it is verifying the facts and pledged to strengthen corporate governance and compliance to prevent a recurrence.
Japan’s porn regulation law was enacted in 2022 and aims to protect 18‑ and 19‑year‑olds from exploitation following the country’s decision to lower the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18.
Violations can result in up to six months in prison, fines of up to 1 million yen or both.
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