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A snap of baseball gears on the court. Illustration photo by Pixabay |
The Yokohama District Court in Japan handed down the 16-year prison sentence to the 44-year-old on Oct. 24 for crimes involving sexual assault, physical assault, and intimidation of women.
Mishima, who previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, was once a prominent figure in the Japanese baseball scene. According to Kyodo Newsthe guilty verdict was reached following a trial that included people’s assessors. Prosecutors had previously sought an 18-year prison sentence for his crimes.
The court found that Mishima committed a series of offenses between August 2020 and June 2025 in the city of Yokohama. The 10 victims, ranging in age from their early teens to their early twenties, were all complete strangers to the defendant.
Notably, Mishima carried out nine of these violent assaults within four months, from February to June 2025.
According to the broadcaster TBSone victim, a first-year high school student, was brutally sexually assaulted on the street in February 2025. Mishima even recorded video footage on his phone while committing the crime.
In another incident on June 6, 2025, Mishima allegedly restrained a 24-year-old woman, subjected her to sexual harassment, and forcefully pushed her to the ground. The victim sustained serious injuries to both knees, requiring 11 days of medical treatment.
At the trial hearing on Oct. 1, Mishima testified that at the time of his offenses, he held deep resentment and viewed all women as enemies, actively seeking to give them distressing experiences. He cited personal stresses stemming from the breakdown of his marriage and his inability to see his daughter as the primary reasons for his behavior.
According to Kyodo NewsMishima would drive around in his vehicle in search of vulnerable women who fit his specific criteria. He admitted to most of the acts but denied, either in whole or in part, the allegations related to three of the victims.
The defense had requested a more lenient sentence, pointing to Mishima’s commitment to undergoing treatment and highlighting the fact that he had reached financial compensation agreements with some of the victims.
However, the judge rejected these arguments for leniency and concluded that the violent crimes were driven entirely by selfish desires. The court also highlighted the fact that Mishima had previously been convicted of two sexual offenses and served prison time for his crimes, yet he continued to reoffend.
According to Fuji Newsmany of the victims have suffered long-lasting mental trauma. One female student, who was filmed while being assaulted, was forced to relocate for her own safety. In court, some victims broke down in tears, while others expressed a desire for Mishima to never be allowed back into society.