'Your Crime Is' to Replace... 'Your Name' PD Involved in Sex Trade with Over 20 Minors

Participated as Producer in "Your Name"
Additional Criminal Facts Revealed, Sent to Prosecution

A producer who participated in the production of the Japanese animated film "Your Name," which was also very popular in Korea, has been arrested on charges of violating the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Act, and additional criminal facts have been revealed, causing a huge shock in Japanese society. On the 8th, Japanese media including the Asahi Shimbun reported that the Wakayama Prefectural Police sent former producer Ito Koichiro (52), who is suspected of violating the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Act (manufacturing), to the Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office.

'Your Name' Poster [Photo by Megabox Plus M]

The police reportedly applied the charges after discovering Ito's involvement during the investigation of a separate child prostitution case. Photos and videos of other women were also found on his personal computer. Ito has been arrested three times so far on the same charges. The newly added charges against Ito include allegedly paying 30,000 yen (about 260,000 won) to a high school girl who was 17 years old at the time in December last year at his home, engaging in obscene acts, and filming them. It is known that he committed the crime knowing that the high school girl was a minor.

Additionally, he is accused of instructing another high school girl in 2021 to take nude photos of herself and send them to him. During the police investigation, he reportedly stated, "I knew at least 20 girls through SNS and engaged in prostitution with them." Ito participated as a producer in theatrical animated works including "Your Name," directed by Makoto Shinkai. "Your Name" is a globally successful work, attracting over 3.8 million viewers in Korea alone.