Women Lost Consciousness After Omakase... Japanese Chef Who Used Sleeping Pills Sent to Jail

Drugging with sleeping pills for sexual assault... Prison sentence

A chef at a high-end Japanese restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide was sentenced to prison for drugging a female customer’s drink with a sleeping pill and sexually assaulting her.

According to local media including Yomiuri TV on the 29th, the Osaka District Court sentenced Masaya Enomoto (47), who was charged with quasi-rape, to 6 years and 6 months in prison.

Enomoto is accused of giving a female customer a drink mixed with a sleeping pill at his restaurant in December 2021 and then sexually assaulting her. He also committed the same crime against another female customer who visited his restaurant in February last year.

Enomoto operates a Japanese cuisine specialty restaurant named "Enomoto" in Naniwa Ward, Osaka City. His restaurant is a reservation-only establishment with only six seats and earned one Michelin star in the 2022 Michelin Guide. The restaurant currently has a notice posted stating it is temporarily closed.

Victim A stated in an interview with local media, "'Enomoto' is a popular restaurant where customers make their next reservation immediately after dining, making new reservations difficult," and added, "I was victimized during my third or fourth visit."

In court, Enomoto apologized, saying, "I am sorry for my shameless actions that caused lifelong wounds to the victims and took away their enjoyable dining time." However, he denied intent, claiming, "I do not remember because I was drinking with the customer at the time."

Masaya Enomoto. [Image source=Nihon TV]

At the sentencing hearing on the 2nd, the prosecution demanded a 10-year prison sentence for Enomoto. The prosecution pointed out, "This crime was malicious and despicable, committed to satisfy his sexual desires, leaving no room for mitigation, and there is concern about recidivism due to a lack of moral awareness."

On the other hand, Enomoto’s defense requested a reduced sentence based on ongoing settlement negotiations with the victim. The court ruled, "This is a despicable crime that exploited trust in the restaurant. Even considering that the defendant admitted the crime, is remorseful, and is negotiating with the victim, the sentence is appropriate."