Japanese police have arrested two elderly Japanese nationals for producing inappropriate photographs of underage girls from Myanmar and Laos. The arrested individuals have been identified as Yoshihiro Shirai, a 60-year-old dentist from Osaka, and Kazuhiko Uji, a 65-year-old unemployed man from Nagoya. The investigation revealed that these individuals had traveled to Asian countries and engaged in exploitative activities involving underage girls.
Yoshihiro Shirai allegedly visited Myanmar in October 2024 and took inappropriate photographs of girls under 18 years of age, although he has denied these allegations. Similarly, Kazuhiko Uji was found to have secretly photographed a young girl at a hotel in Laos in March of this year. Japanese authorities have seized more than 11,000 inappropriate videos and photographs from the two suspects.
The Japanese government has stated that their citizens can be prosecuted under Japanese law for such crimes even when committed abroad. Particularly concerning is the involvement of Japanese nationals in child exploitation in Laos, which prompted the Japanese government to issue a separate statement in June of this year. They have explicitly declared that perpetrators of such crimes will face severe consequences. The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts of Japanese law enforcement to combat child exploitation, regardless of where the crimes are committed, demonstrating their commitment to protecting minors across international borders.
