A Female Prosecutor Speaks Out as Victim of Rape

A female public prosecutor of Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office, Hikari (pseudonym), revealed a handwritten letter of former Chief Prosecutor in her office, Kentaro Kitagawa, which pleaded her not to publicize the fact of rape on her. In her press conference at Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan on May 21st, Hikari meanwhile accused her office of spreading rumor of the incident and demanded the office establishment of third-party organization for investigation.

According to the allegation of Hikari, Kitagawa brought her, heavily intoxicated with alcohol, to his room and raped while she was asleep and awake, saying “Now, you’re my woman,” in September 2018. Although Kitagawa asked her not to reveal the fact, Hikari filed a formal report in February 2024. It took six years for her to reveal the incident, given pressure from Kitagawa.

 

The authority of public prosecutors indicted Kitagawa with crime of constructive indecency through compulsion in July 2024. In the first trial at Osaka District Court in October 2024, Kitagawa admitted the facts of charge, apologizing her of giving serious damage. However, Kitagawa announced through his lawyer in December 2024 that he would deny the facts and claim his innocence in next trial. The second trial has not been held so far.

 

Hikari disclosed Kitagawa’s letter in 2019. “If this becomes public, I have no other choice but to take my own life. It would be a major scandal involving the Chief Prosecutor of the second biggest District Prosecutors Office. The prosecution organization will face fierce criticism. The Osaka District Prosecutors Office will not function. I beg you to stop – even at the cost of my life – for the sake of the Osaka office, which you also belong to,” wrote the letter. Hikari once hesitated revealing the incident, but it exacerbated her post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Hikari also accused a female assistant prosecutor of secondary victimization. The assistant prosecutor allegedly leaked confidential information during internal investigation of Kitagawa and spread rumors indicating that Hikari had been lying. Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office dismissed Hikari’s argument in March 2025, but the office reprimanded the assistant prosecutor.

 

Hikari also acknowledges secondary harm by prosecution organization. Hikari was told by her superior that the case was her personal issue and no support system was established for her. The office made no effort to prevent assistant prosecutor’s obstruction of investigation or spreading rumors. “This case has exposed the problems with the prosecution and provide the opportunity to install a third party for a thorough investigation and recurrence-preventive measures,” says Hikari.

 

No response has made from Kitagawa, the assistant prosecutor or the public prosecutors office so far.

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