One awful consequence of the COVID-19 crisis is its lopsided impact on women. In country after country, women face the prospect of economic ruin as the low paying jobs many have found themselves shunted into disappear. This is especially true in Japan, where government policy under the Abe administration funneled women into temporary contract and part-time work for years.
Sadly, some men look upon this development, not with sadness, but with eager glee. As Rachel Moss recently reported for Huffington Post UK, more women find themselves joining the sex industry just to make ends meet. In Japan, comedian Okamura Takashi even went so far as to tell his radio show listeners they should wait until “pretty girls become sex workers” out of economic desperation before returning to Japan’s brothels.
A recent case in Tokyo shows why Okamura’s “advice” is no laughing matter. The case demonstrates how obscenely wealthy men use their power to take advantage of economically disadvantaged women for nothing but the sake of their own amusement.
“Tequila Game”
"You're a disgrace to the world of Yusukes. Change your name." Click To TweetAt the center of the case is 40-year-old industrialist Mitsumoto Yusuke (光本勇介). Estimates put Mitsumoto’s total net worth at around 10 billion yen (around USD $92 million). Mitsumoto has made his money starting up and selling off various online financial services, such as CASH and BANK. (He sold BANK to popular online video streaming and gaming service DMM for a reported USD $70 million.)
Mitsumoto, it turns out, is a frequent attendee of an upscale lounge in Tokyo’s Ebisu neighborhood named S. According to the newspaper Daily Shincho, S is known as a frequent site for “papa-katsu” (パパ活) hookups – i.e., sugar daddying. S is a members-only club that, according to one customer, maintains a high grade “cast” of female companions who drink with the club’s clientele. The customer compares the venue more to a high-end club in Ginza than to traditional “cabaret clubs” built on a similar model.
Daily Shincho reported on the basic facts of the incident in a long interview with Mitsumoto. While I’m hesitant to give so much attention to an article that focuses on the perp in this incident, it’s important to hear how Mitsumoto spins the story – and how he justifies his actions.
The basic facts are as follows. The incident occurred on the evening of November 27th. At some point, Mitsumoto offered one of the female employees drinking with Mitsumoto – referred to in Japanese media as A – almost $1,000 dollars (ï¿¥100,000 – the same amount the government gave to citizens for COVID-19 relief) if she could drink a bottle of tequila in 15 minutes. A made it partway through and stopped. Mitsumoto gave her a “consolation prize” of around USD $300.
A seemed fine for a while but eventually threw up. After she seemed to have recovered, Mitsumoto left the bar. But A’s condition deteriorated from there. She died several hours later.
The exact cause of A’s death is unknown. An unnamed police officer interviewed by Biz-Journal says that it appears A died, not from alcohol poisoning, but from pneumonia caused by something she threw up falling back down into her trachea. The officer told the newspaper that the cause of death would make it very difficult to bring charges against Mitsumoto. (Mitsumoto himself says police told him that the case isn’t being treated as a crime.) Rather, charges are more likely to come against S lounge for dereliction of duty.
“Like Paying Someone to Jump Out a Second Story Window”
However, Mitsumoto also admits that he's the one who set the rules for the game. (I.e., he came up with the guidelines that ultimately killed his companion.) Click To TweetIn his interview with Daily Shincho, Mitsumoto put up a half-defense of his actions. He maintains the idea to start a drinking game wasn’t his, but A’s. However, Mitsumoto also admits that he’s the one who set the rules for the game. (I.e., he came up with the guidelines that ultimately killed his companion.)
While describing himself as “shocked”, Mitsumoto spends most of his time in the Daily Shincho article throwing himself a pity party over the criticism he’s received on Twitter and Instagram. “It’s really created a lot of emotional stress. I’ve deleted the app itself off of my phone.” (His Instagram is currently private; his Twitter, for some reason, remains public.)
But no one, it seems, is willing to pity Mitsumoto – including the author of his interview.
