Tokyo police plan to refer two high school baseball players from Nihon University's Third Senior High School to prosecutors on suspicion of coercing a female student to send obscene images. Authorities are investigating the possible dissemination of videos involving a 15-year-old girl to dozens of people. The case surfaced after a parent reported concerns to police.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating two members of the baseball team at Nihon University's Third Senior High School in western Tokyo for suspected violations of the child prostitution and child pornography prohibition law. A 17-year-old player is accused of receiving a total of three obscene videos or images from a 15-year-old female acquaintance between March and April of last year. The other suspect, aged 16, allegedly received one of those videos between April and October of the same year and forwarded it to another student.
Police are probing whether the videos were shared with dozens of individuals. During voluntary questioning, the two students admitted to their actions, stating they had done something they should not have and deeply regretted their thoughtless behavior.
The case came to light when the female student's parent approached the police about the potential spread of the videos. The school's baseball team is renowned as a powerhouse, having appeared in the prestigious Koshien national championships 40 times in both spring and summer tournaments. It secured victories in the summer tournaments of 2001 and 2011, as well as the spring tournament in 1971.
This incident highlights concerns over child pornography among high school students, with authorities continuing to question other involved parties.