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Former Gainax Representative Director Tomohiro Maki Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison
posted on by Egan Loo
Content warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual harassment and assault.
The legal portal site Bengo4.com reported on Monday that the Tokyo District Court sentenced former arrested in December 2019 for indecent acts that he committed in February 2019 on an aspiring voice actress, who was contracted to a production company he managed.
Maki took photographs of the victim naked, reportedly to "prepare her for photoshoots in the entertainment industry." Maki also touched her inappropriately while reportedly claiming to "massage her because her feet were swollen."
At the time, Maki was the representative director of Gainax International, a talent agency d with the original Gainax studio. Maki became the representative director of the original Gainax company in October 2019, after the indecent acts in February 2019 but before his December 2019 arrest. He had been a board director of Gainax since 2015.
Maki and Gainax's other board at the time of the arrest, as well as the company's auditor, Yasuhiro Kamimura as its new representative director on December 28.
In reaction to the sentencing, the victim said that she was naive when she was told that the nude photoshoots and inappropriate massages at Gainax's women's dormitory were necessary for promotion. The victim, who was in her late teens at the time, added that there were times when she refused, but there were times she was convinced to go along. She said she has spent the year from Maki's arrest to sentencing in anxiety, but hopes no one in the future will feel the sorrow that she felt.
Kunitaka Kasai, the attorney for the victim, added that they ask people to respect the victim's anonymity and vowed to take legal measures to protect her honor and privacy.
detailed his falling out with Gainax, which he formally left in 2007.
If you are experiencing an unsafe workplace due to sexual harassment or assault, you can speak with someone who is trained to help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.
Source: Bengo4.com via Hachima Kikō
