A Japanese man might go to jail after secretly recording over 1,000 women in hot springs. He hid cameras in fake rocks and acted in various places in Japan. People felt shocked after discovering how much spying he did.
Cameras Found in Yamagata Hot Springs
(Photo : Jose A.Thompson on Unsplash)
The case started when a woman noticed something strange at a hot spring in Yamagata. She saw odd light reflections and found a fake rock with a hidden camera inside.
After checking the rock, she saw the camera and quickly called the police. This discovery led to a bigger investigation.
According to the South China Morning Post, the police arrested the 31-year-old man in May after searching for him in Fukushima. When they checked the camera, they found videos of at least 44 women. However, they believe he recorded many more since he had been doing this since 2022.
"Two years is too short. It should be two years times the number of victims. They could be affected for a lifetime if the footage was uploaded to the internet," a Japanese netizen commented.
He used complicated tricks to stay hidden. According to reports, he bought telelens online and created fake rocks with clay and plastic. He placed the camera in these rocks and taped the wires so they looked natural, then used a power bank so the camera worked non-stop.
To avoid being caught, he dressed like a mountain climber and hid behind a net, as per WION. His careful planning allowed him to record women without being noticed.
Criminal Record and New Investigation
This wasn't the man's first problem with the law. Before, he was found guilty of owning child pornography, a crime that already damaged how people saw him. But his recent actions have really surprised everyone with how big and planned they were.
The prosecutor called the crime "planned and done many times." It seriously hurt the victims' mental well-being.
Because of the seriousness of the crime, the prosecutor is asking for at least two years in prison. The final decision is expected on Sept. 17.
Hidden Camera Crimes in Japan
This case points to a bigger issue in Japan. Recording people illegally has become a bigger problem recently.
In 2022, Japan's police recorded 5,737 cases of secret recordings with hidden cameras. This number barely lowered to 5,730 the next year. Secret tools to spy on people's privacy are a big threat. Isn't it clear this case shows urgent steps are needed?
People are now demanding tougher rules and more forceful police action to fight the rise of such crimes. With new technology, invading someone's privacy has really become simpler. Public spaces don't always feel safe anymore. How far will this problem go?
A Serious Crime with Long Effects
This case reminds everyone just how damaging voyeurism and hidden camera crimes are. Over 1,000 victims were affected, showing the man's repeated violations of personal space. Women across Japan have suffered because of this.
The case of hidden cameras is not commonplace. Even in AirBnb, spying is speculated through the secret cams in private places. Because of this, the company was alerted upon receiving 35,000 support tickets.
