A shocking Japanese college club created to gang assault girls｜Super Free Incident

Summary

This video script delves into the dark side of Japan's societal image, focusing on the shocking reality of gender-based crimes and the 'Super Free' incident. It discusses the existence of a university club turned into a criminal organization, where women were drugged and sexually assaulted. The case led to the revision of Japan's sexual assault laws, yet gender discrimination and attacks persist. The script also touches on the cultural factors and attitudes that contribute to such issues.

Takeaways

• 🇯🇵 Japan is often perceived as a safe and polite society with a rich cultural heritage.
• 🚨 Despite its reputation, Japan has its share of gender-based crimes, including frequent molestation incidents.
• 🎓 The 'Super Free' incident highlights a shocking case of a university club exploiting female students for sexual assault.
• 🤬 The club, initially a social gathering, transformed under the leadership of Shinada, becoming notorious for its criminal activities.
• 💼 Shinada's ambition led him to enroll in a prestigious university and rise to the head of the 'Super Free' club, where he encouraged gang assaults.
• 🍻 The modus operandi involved getting girls extremely drunk at parties and then sexually assaulting them in bathrooms or other locations.
• 📸 Members took photos of the assaults to blackmail victims, making it difficult for them to report the crimes.
• 🚨 The club's activities went under the radar for years, with an estimated 100 women assaulted and about 50 men involved.
• 📚 The case led to the revision of Japan's sexual assault laws, adding a gang sexual assault prosecution law to the criminal code.
• 🏆 The sentencing disparity between robbery and sexual assault highlighted a troubling valuation of human dignity by the law.
• 🎭 Some men in Japan view sex and assault through a distorted lens, influenced by media like the 'Rapeman' anime, which promotes harmful stereotypes.

Q & A

What is the general perception of Japan in terms of safety and cultural heritage?

The general perception of Japan is that it has a rich cultural heritage, a unique cuisine, and its people are known for their high level of politeness and strong sense of etiquette. It is also often considered a safe place compared to other parts of Asia.

What concerns have been raised about safety for women in Japan?

There are concerns about the safety of women in Japan due to frequent experiences of molestation in broad daylight, as reported by women living in the country. This raises questions about whether Japan is truly safe for women.

What is the 'Super Free' incident mentioned in the script?

The 'Super Free' incident refers to a shocking case involving a university club in Japan that was created to take advantage of female students through sexual assault and exploitation.

How did the 'Super Free' club initially operate and what changed when Shinada became the organizer?

Initially, the 'Super Free' club was a social gathering at Wasa University. When Shinada became the organizer in 1995, it transformed into a notorious club involved in sexual assault, targeting vulnerable women and engaging in heinous acts.

What was the modus operandi of the 'Super Free' club?

The 'Super Free' club would lure women to rave parties, get them extremely drunk, and then sexually assault them in bathrooms or other locations. They would also use drugs to render their victims unconscious and take pictures of the assaults to blackmail them.

How did the 'Super Free' club manage to operate under the radar for so long?

The club operated under the radar by targeting the most vulnerable and attractive girls, using strong alcohol or drugs to incapacitate them, and blackmailing them with pictures of the assaults, which made it difficult for victims to report the crimes.

What was the legal outcome for Shinada and the 'Super Free' members involved in the sexual assaults?

Shinada and 13 other 'Super Free' members were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. Shinada was sentenced to 14 years, while others received sentences ranging from 28 months to 10 years. Their appeals were rejected by the Tokyo High Court and the Supreme Court of Japan.

How did the 'Super Free' incident influence Japan's legal system?

The incident led to the revision of Japan's sexual assault laws, including the addition of a gang sexual assault prosecution law to the criminal code, addressing the disparity in sentencing between robbery and sexual assault.

What was the role of Wasa University in the 'Super Free' incident?

Wasa University was the site where the 'Super Free' club was initially a social gathering club before it became notorious under Shinada's leadership. The university's prestigious image was tarnished by the incident.

What broader societal issues does the 'Super Free' incident highlight?

The incident highlights broader societal issues such as gender-based crimes, victim reluctance to report due to fear of shame, and the sexualization and fetishization of assault in media and culture.

What was the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasu Fukuda's controversial comment regarding the 'Super Free' incident?

Yasu Fukuda made a controversial comment suggesting that some women appear to be inviting assault and that it's the women's fault because men are like panthers. This comment was widely criticized and he later claimed it was distorted and not intended to defend sexual assault.

Outlines

00:00

🇯🇵 Cultural Perceptions and Women's Safety in Japan

This paragraph discusses the common perceptions of Japan's rich culture, politeness, and safety, contrasting it with the reality of women's experiences in the country. It raises the question of whether Japan is truly safe for women, highlighting frequent incidents of molestation and the reluctance of victims to report crimes due to societal stigma. The paragraph introduces the 'Super Free' incident, a shocking case that reveals the dark side of Japanese society, where gender-based crimes are rampant but often overlooked. It also mentions the term 'chikan,' used to describe men who sexually harass women in crowded public transit, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the issue.

05:00

🎓 The Dark Underbelly of University Clubs: The Super Free Case

The second paragraph delves into the shocking reality of a university club turned into a criminal organization known as 'Super Free.' Initially a social gathering, the club transformed under the leadership of Shinada, a second-year student, into a notorious group involved in drugging and sexually assaulting women. The club's activities spanned multiple universities and included elaborate schemes to target vulnerable women, often from less prestigious institutions, luring them with the allure of Tokyo's high-life. The modus operandi involved excessive alcohol consumption or drugging to incapacitate the victims, followed by sexual assault in various settings. The paragraph also touches on the psychological manipulation and the club's hierarchical structure that encouraged such heinous acts as a demonstration of group solidarity.

10:02

🚨 The Legal Consequences and Societal Impact of the Super Free Incident

This paragraph outlines the legal repercussions and societal impact of the Super Free incident. Despite numerous victims, only a handful of perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted, highlighting the challenges in addressing such crimes. The cases mentioned involve multiple assaults on young women, with the leader, Wada, receiving a 14-year sentence, while others received lighter sentences. The appeal process and the eventual rejection by higher courts underscore the legal system's struggle with such cases. The incident also catalyzed changes in Japan's sexual assault laws, adding gang sexual assault prosecution to the criminal code, addressing the previous disparity in sentencing between robbery and sexual assault. The paragraph also reflects on the broader societal attitudes towards women and sexual assault in Japan, including controversial comments by a government official and the influence of media that objectifies and glorifies sexual violence.

15:02

🏙️ Ongoing Issues of Women's Safety and Gender Discrimination in Japan

The final paragraph brings attention to the ongoing issues of women's safety and gender discrimination in Japan, even after the Super Free case and legal reforms. It recounts a 2014 incident where numerous unconscious girls were found on the streets of Shinjuku, suggesting drug-facilitated sexual assault. The victims were students who had interacted with male tennis club members from another university. The university's response was to issue a statement promising to prevent such incidents, but the paragraph ends on a somber note, expressing concern for the victims and a general call for the safety of women. It emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and societal change to address gender-based violence.

Keywords

💡Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage refers to the legacy of physical artifacts, traditions, and values that are handed down from one generation to another. In the context of the video, Japan's rich cultural heritage is mentioned as one of the first things that come to mind when people think of the country, suggesting a deep and respected history that contributes to its global image.

💡Politeness and Etiquette

Politeness and etiquette are social behaviors and norms that demonstrate respect and consideration for others. The script highlights the Japanese people's association with a high level of politeness and a strong sense of etiquette, which is part of the country's cultural identity and contributes to the perception of Japan as a respectful and harmonious society.

💡Gender-Based Crime

Gender-based crime refers to criminal acts that are committed on the basis of a person's gender. The video discusses the issue of gender-based crimes in Japan, particularly focusing on the experiences of women and the reluctance of victims to come forward due to societal attitudes and fear of shame, which is central to the video's theme of safety and justice for women.

💡Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a criminal act that includes any unwanted sexual contact or behavior. The script uses the term to describe the experiences of women in Japan, emphasizing the prevalence of such crimes and the societal and legal challenges faced by victims in seeking justice and recognition of their experiences.

💡Chikan

Chikan is a Japanese term used to describe men who exploit crowded conditions on public transit systems to grope women. The script mentions chikan to illustrate the types of sexual harassment women may face in public settings, highlighting the issue of sexual assault in everyday life in Japan.

💡Super Free Club

The Super Free Club, as mentioned in the script, was a university club that was involved in organized sexual assaults. This term is central to the video's narrative as it exemplifies the shocking reality of gender-based crimes within educational institutions and the dark side of certain social circles in Japan.

💡Victim Reluctance

Victim reluctance refers to the hesitancy or unwillingness of victims to report crimes, particularly sexual assaults, due to various reasons such as fear of retaliation or social stigma. The script discusses the reluctance of victims to come forward as a significant barrier to addressing and preventing gender-based crimes in Japan.

💡Gang Assault

Gang assault is a criminal act where multiple individuals participate in assaulting a victim. The script details the modus operandi of the Super Free Club, where gang assaults were not only permitted but encouraged, illustrating the extreme nature of the crimes committed and the collective responsibility of the perpetrators.

💡Blackmail

Blackmail is the act of threatening to reveal embarrassing, disgraceful, or compromising information about a person unless certain demands are met. In the context of the video, perpetrators used photographs of the assaults to blackmail and silence their victims, demonstrating a method of control and intimidation that perpetuates the cycle of abuse.

💡Sexualization and Fetishization

Sexualization and fetishization refer to the act of treating someone or something as a sexual object or with an excessive and inappropriate focus on sexual aspects. The script mentions the sexualization and fetishization of assault videos, which exacerbates the situation for victims by dehumanizing them and trivializing their experiences.

💡Legal System

The legal system encompasses the set of institutions, rules, and procedures for enforcing laws in a society. The video discusses the Japanese legal system's response to the Super Free Club incident, including the revisions to sexual assault laws and the disparity in sentencing between sexual assault and other crimes, which underscores the need for reform and a reevaluation of societal values.

Highlights

Japan is often perceived as a safe place with a rich cultural heritage and polite citizens, but questions remain about its safety for women.

Reports suggest frequent experiences of molestation in Japan, similar to those in Korea, despite the societal glitz and glamour.

A BBC documentary reveals that gender-based crimes are rampant in Japan, but victims are often reluctant to come forward due to fear of shame.

The belief that sexual assault is a myth remains strong in Japan and other Asian countries, contributing to victim reluctance.

The 'Super Free' incident in Japan is a shocking case involving a university club exploiting female students.

Sexual assault clubs exist covertly within educational institutions, disguising their true activities from the outside.

The 'Super Free' club at Wasa University was initially a social gathering but transformed into a notorious group under Shinada's leadership.

Shinada, a second-year student, changed the club's activities to include gang assaults on women as a way to demonstrate solidarity among members.

The club's modus operandi involved getting girls extremely drunk at parties and then sexually assaulting them in bathrooms or other locations.

Victims were often blackmailed with photos taken during the assaults, making it difficult for them to report the crimes.

Around 100 women were estimated to have been assaulted by 'Super Free' members, with about 50 men involved.

Only a few members were arrested and charged for the assaults, highlighting the difficulty in prosecuting such crimes.

The case led to the revision of Japan's sexual assault laws, adding a gang sexual assault prosecution law to the criminal code.

The sentencing disparity between robbery and sexual assault highlighted a troubling valuation of human dignity versus property.

Controversial comments by a government official during the case reflect deep-seated issues in how Japan views women and sexual assault.

The existence of an anime called 'Rapeman' exemplifies the disturbing normalization of sexual assault in some Japanese media.

Post-war inferiority complexes among Japanese men may contribute to a desire to regain power through consuming or emulating problematic media.

Despite legal adjustments, gender-based attacks continue, and gender discrimination remains prevalent in modern Japan.

An incident in 2014 where dozens of girls were found unconscious on the streets of Shinjuku raises further concerns about drug-facilitated assaults.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for safety and awareness among women in Japan.

Transcripts

when we think of Japan we think about

its Rich cultural heritage its cuisine

and the Japanese people who are often

associated with a high level of

politeness and a strong sense of

etiquette also we often perceive Japan

as a safe place compared to other parts

of Asia I do think this is true to some

degree but the question remains is Japan

safe for

women we hear many stories from women

living in Japan about frequent

experiences of molestation in broad

daylight and the same applies to women

in Korea I must say behind the glitz and

glamour of society which is often the

sole focus of Dramas there is always a

dark side and on my channel that's what

we are going to discuss today's case is

another level shocking and it serves as

a stark reminder that Japan may not

always be a safe place for women

especially if you find yourself in the

wrong place at the wrong time with the

wrong people in Japan victims of

gender-based crime are often brushed off

according to a BBC documentary

gender-based crimes are rampant but the

victims are reluctant to come forward

with their testimony for fear of being

shamed after all the belief that sexual

assault is a myth remains strong in

Japan as well as in several other Asian

countries the sexualization and

fetishization of assault videos

exacerbate the situation for victims

sexual assault can occur anywhere from a

private place like one's own home to a

public setting such as the subway often

referred to as chican the term Chan is

commonly used to describe men who

exploit crowded conditions on public

transit systems to grope women and this

explanation sets the background for what

we will will discuss further in today's

case so today let's take a look into a

disgusting Japanese University Club that

was created to take advantage of female

students the superf free incident in

[Music]

Japan

I'm sure many of you are familiar with

college clubs each university has its

own variety ranging from at least five

to of course more than a handful these

clubs act as either extracurricular

activities or just places where students

can indulge into their Hobbies but as

unbelievable as it is are you aware Ware

of the existence of sexual assault clubs

at first I thought there was no way a

group of individuals would join that

type of Club at least sane individuals

but it's not uncommon for such clubs to

exist even hidden from The Naked Eyes of

educational institutions of course it's

not like they openly advertise that the

club would trick women and serve them up

to mail members on the surface they are

just like any other club s they mask

their Club as a normal Gathering but

they pray on the girl members or even

strangers so it's quite difficult to

track them one by one compounded by the

victim's reluctance to report it those

who fall victim are subjected to getting

drugged and a disgusting gang assault a

well-known story of a super free Club is

one example of it established way back

in

1982 superfree was initially a social

Gathering Club at Wasa University Wasa

University Here is known to be an elite

University as they have multiple

ministers and heads of companies among

its alumni but this prestigious image

would soon be tarnished by this incident

or perhaps an issue that had been

ongoing for quite some time but no one

had dared to speak about the duration of

the super free circle's operation as an

assault circle is unknown it might once

been a normal Gathering club for

students but it changed drastically when

one student became the organizer of the

club shinada was a seconde student in

1995 when he became the head of that

Gathering Club it was then that super

free transformed into something unlike

any other school club becoming wildly

notorious let's learn a little about

wada himself shinich wada had initially

planned to enroll at true University of

Tokyo in

1993 but he aspired for more he was an

ambitious young man he wanted to be more

than he actually was so he started

taking wasa's entrance exam and he got

in then what I became aware of the

existence of this superf free club and

decided to join it the club was known

for having fun with the girls at parties

so who could resist W was well-liked in

that Circle until he eventually

became the head organizer of the club

superf free operated not just within one

University but branched out to other

circles forming a joint group their

primary activities included frequent

Rave parties at clubs in Tokyo

especially in the rongi district to keep

their criminal activities Under Wraps

wada instructed club members to

distribute tickets for their activities

only to trusted individuals and eager

freshmen from the outside superfree

appeared to be a typical fraternity

style Club but it was actually very

successful the club included members not

only from was University but also from

other prestigious universities around

Tokyo according to one report they had

five branches 30 employees and even an

office in Tokyo the tickets they

distributed weren't free w reportedly

earned 10 million yen which is about

,000 annually but money wasn't their

only goal their primary objective was

women superf free attracted many young

students and women especially from less

Elite universities these women were

their main targets because they were

vulnerable and believed that attending

the parties would give them access to

the high ranking Tokyo lifestyle Tao an

investigator interested in the case

began researching what happened and what

led to this heinous mess according to

him these women who were not attending

universities in the big city of Tokyo

were willing to believe the Flyers

advertising Rave parties as representing

the typical Tokyo lifestyle he even

stated that some of the victims in court

admitted to consenting to the gang

assault and became lovers of the superf

free members the modus operandi was

always the same all guests and me first

gathered in a club for a rave party got

special girls drunk and took them to the

bathroom the girls were made extremely

drunk by being encouraged to drink as

much alcohol as they could until they

were unable to resist

anymore they'd then be taken to the

bathroom where the members of the superf

free circles take turns in line to

sexually assault

them the act of gang assault was not

only permitted but was actively

encouraged by wada himself in the power

structure which resembled a pyramid wada

viewed gang assaulting girls as a way to

demonstrate solidarity among members

wada allegedly told the superfree

members that those who would not

participate in this heinous act were not

truly part of the group but it's so

distressing to think how any sane person

could so readily accept his words

without logical thinking this

specifically organized crime didn't only

take place in bar bathrooms but also in

other locations the girls could be taken

to an Alleyway a stairwell hotels or

even to W's or a member's house the

perpetrators made sure to Target the

most vulnerable and attractive girls

then Spike their drinks with strong

vodka with nearly 90% alcohol if that

wasn't sufficient or available

drugs were also used to knock their

victims

unconscious more often than not the

members would take pictures of the

assault to Blackmail and silence their

victims this tactic enabled them to

easily control the victim making it

difficult for her to report the ACT

anywhere it was reported that a member

named Kishimoto was task with calming

the struggling victims by keeping their

victims quiet and cooperative they were

able to operate under the police radar

for years in total around 100 women were

estimated to have been assaulted by

superf free members it was also said

that about 50 men were involved in the

gang

assaults the frequency of committing the

crime varied among members some stated

they had only done it once or twice

While others admitted to doing it up to

15 times the number of victims

perpetrators and frequency of the crimes

can't be determined because of the

nature of the crime itself on December

19 2001 wada and two other members of

superf free assaulted a 19-year-old

college student at W's residence in

April 2003 wada and 12 members of the

gang assaulted an 18-year-old near a

rongi building before taking her to W's

residence for further assault on May

18th 2003 wada and four other members

assaulted a 20-year-old college student

at the same rongi location the reason

why I'm mentioning these three cases is

that despite there possibly being more

than 100 victims only wada and 13 of the

superf free members were arrested on

just three counts of the assaults I just

mentioned even when these reports

finally came out and multiple women

bravely came forward with similar

reports they requested that their

complaints not be filed

perhaps they belied that those arrested

were just the tip of the iceberg and

feared they could be blackmailed or

targeted for Revenge at any time W was

sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment

while the others received imprisonment

punishments ranging from 28 months to 10

years W's sentence wasn't the maximum

partly because his father made a plea

offering to compensate the victims but

yes this compensation was only for those

involved in the three

reports despite their heinous crimes

these individuals had the audacity to

appeal their sentences wada appealed his

verdict in 2003 but the Tokyo High Court

rejected these appeals in June 2005 and

upheld the original verdict wada and the

others tried to submit their appeal to

the Supreme Court of Japan but their

efforts were inv ban as the Supreme

Court also rejected it in November of

the same year according to sources

despite a sentence officially ending in

2017 wada was released on parole earlier

he now resides in Osaka having changed

his name and address this case became a

catalyst for revising Japan sexual

assault laws and led to the addition of

a gang sexual assault prosecution law to

the criminal code of

Japan the need for change was

underscored by the disparity in

sentencing the minimum sentence for

robbery was 5 years while for sexual

assault it was only 2

years this discrepancy highlighted a

troubling valuation of human dignity

versus property in the eyes of the law

not to mention then Chief cabinet

secretary yasu fukuda made controversial

and absolutely creepy comments during an

off- thee reccord discussion with the

reporters in June 2003 regarding this

superf free

incident he stated that there are women

who look like they're saying do it to me

and it's the women's fault because men

are panthers I

mean what how sick in the mind do you

have to be to say that though still

fukura said that that comment was

distorted and he never intended to

defend sexual

assault as I was researching this case I

actually found out something about the

notorious way some men in Japan view sex

and assault there was an anime made in

the 9s called rapeman which tells the

story of a superhero whose Moto is

writing wrongs through

penetration he takes revenge on women

including high school girls for his

clients and this anime is still enjoyed

by men even today an explanation that I

found is quite interesting one manga

collector said that after Japan's defeat

in World War II Japanese men developed

an inferiority complex they used to feel

dominant especially over women but the

post-war period left them feeling

defeated and Dishonored this is why some

seek to regain a sense of power Power by

consuming such media and in extreme

cases emulating it blurring the lines

between fiction and

reality I don't know um if any of you

are watching from Japan I'm sure you can

give us a better explanation the way

Japan views women is still a topic of

ongoing debate within its legal system

despite adjustments to the criminal code

the reality is that gender-based attacks

continue to take place and and gender

discrimination remains prevalent in the

21st century even after this case in

2014 dozens of girls were found

unconscious on the streets of Shinjuku

these girls were not merely drunk but

completely unconscious lying on the

street with their skirts up to their

hips and several were reported to have

soiled themselves which rais suspicions

that someone might have slipped a muscle

relaxant or some typ type of drugs into

their

drinks all of these girls were students

from Japan Women's University and played

tennis with male members of the tennis

club of Mai University earlier that day

Mai University issued an official

statement that they would prevent this

from ever happening again and that was

it I feel terrible for all the victims

out there and yet all I can do is wish

for the recovery of every victim of

sexual assault and for the safety of

other women stay safe everyone and as

always thank you for

[Music]

watching