The Japanese anime producer has been accused of coercing a 15-year-old girl into sending him nude selfies over social media.
Kôichirô Itô, a Japanese producer known for his work on multiple anime film hits such as Suzume, Your Name, and Weathering with You, has been arrested on charges of creating child pornography, THR reports.
According to Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Itô allegedly coerced a 15-year-old girl he met on social media to send him nude photos in September 2021. An additional report from Tokyo broadcaster TBS states Ito paid the girl 12,500 yen (approximately $85) for the photos, which violates Japan’s Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reports that the producer has already admitted to the charges, but claimed he didn’t know who was accusing him, as he had received nude images from multiple minor girls. The search for other victims is underway.
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