A 76-year-old man at the center of a high-profile sexual assault case has died just one day before a court was set to deliver its verdict, police sources revealed Monday.
The man, identified as Hirohito Shibuya, was found unresponsive at his home in Higashiyamato, Tokyo, around 10:10 p.m. Sunday. One of the women he lived with called an ambulance, but Shibuya was pronounced dead approximately an hour later. Authorities suspect the cause of death to be suicide.
Background of the Case
Shibuya gained public attention for his unconventional living arrangement. He resided with his wife, eight former wives, and three children. In February 2023, he was arrested on charges of constructive forcible sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 20.
According to the indictment, the alleged assault occurred at his home between mid-June and December 12, 2022. Prosecutors claimed Shibuya coerced the girl by threatening her with bizarre statements, including that she would be “eaten by aliens,” to weaken her resistance.
Tragic Pattern of Events
This is the second apparent suicide linked to the case. On December 23, 2024, one of Shibuya’s former wives, who was in her 40s and had been charged with aiding and abetting the alleged assault, also died at his home under similar circumstances.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Shibuya’s death and the broader implications of the case, which has drawn significant public attention for its disturbing details and unusual family dynamics.
The ruling on the sexual assault case was originally scheduled for Monday.
