Kanagawa cops arrest monk for upskirt shots

KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Sunday announced the arrest of a Buddhist monk for taking illicit photographs of a high school girl inside JR Odawara Station, reports TBS News (March 22).

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Masahiro Masuda, a 41-year-old monk at Choufuku-ji Shrine in Hadano City, allegedly used a smartphone to film up the skirt of the second-year student, 16, as she stood on an escalator inside the station.

Masuda, who has been charged with violating a public nuisance ordinance, has reportedly admitted to the allegations. “It is easy to take tosatsu photos on long escalators,” the suspect is quoted by police in referring to peeping images.

After becoming aware of the actions of Masuda, the victim and her father apprehended the suspect.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Masuda said. “I’ve taken tosatsu photos of young girls a few times in the past as well.”