by The well-known producer of the popular anime movie “Your Name,” Koichiro Ito, is involved in a scandal that has shocked the anime community.
The 52-year-old director’s incredible career is clouded by serious charges he faces regarding child prostitution and child pornography.
Ito’s legal issues started when the Wakayama Prefectural Police detained him on suspicion of breaking the law against child pornography and prostitution.
He has encountered similar accusations previously. Ito has actually been charged with similar crimes three times before, which begs major concerns about both his behavior and the security of young children.
Investigators claim that in December 2023, Ito paid a 17-year-old Yokohama high school girl ¥30,000 (about $275) to have sex at his house.
Remarkably, he was aware of her minor status at the time. The fact that the illegal meeting was captured on camera exacerbates the accusations made against him. The Wakayama prefectural police have emphasized the seriousness of the issue by calling for “severe punishment.”
However, the disclosures don’t stop there. Ito allegedly admitted to having slept with over 20 women, the majority of whom he had connected with on social media.
“I met at least 20 underage girls on social media and paid them to have sex.” The investigation concluded that Ito had admitted.
His strategy was to entice young females into dangerous circumstances, take advantage of their weaknesses, and then record the interactions. High school students and part-time employees were among the victims; they were all gullible people who fell prey to his predatory actions.
In addition to the movie Your Name, Koichiro Ito collaborated with filmmaker Makoto Shinkai on Weathering With You, Garden of Words, and the recently released Suzume.
Fans of “Your Name” expressed shock and sadness on social media as word of Ito’s detention spread.
