Hyogo hostess, 6 teens arrested for sexual abuse, confinement of boy

AMAGASAKI (TR) – Hyogo Prefectural Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of a woman and six teenagers for the alleged abuse of a 15-year-old boy inside her apartment in Amagasaki City in October, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 9).

On the morning of October 9, Tamae Okino, a 43-year-old bar hostess, instructed the six teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, to detain the boy, a third-year junior-high school student, with a kitchen knife and commit sexual acts upon him over a three-hour period.

All of the suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations.

According to Nikkan Sports (Dec. 11), Okino became angered after the boy began a relationship with her eldest daughter, a 14-year-old who has been taken into special care.

Okino, who operates a “snack” karaoke bar near her apartment, moved to Amagasaki from Yamaguchi Prefecture in October of last year.

The teenage suspects, three boys and three girls, shared Okino’s three-bedroom apartment. Some of the suspects are employed at her bar, while others work in the construction industry.

According to TBS News (Dec. 10), police said Okino instilled fear within the six teenage suspects by threatening violence so they would follow her orders.

Prefectural police are now seeking to apply charges related to the Child Welfare Law, according to Nippon News Network (Dec. 11).