TOKYO, JAPAN – A 39-year-old Thai woman went on trial at the Tokyo District Court over allegations of child exploitation, which she denied by claiming she did not know the child’s age.
Indictment and opening court session
The defendant, Phakhaphon Punsiripanya, had worked as manager of a massage parlour in Tokyo. Prosecutors accused her of being involved in the exploitation of a child at the establishment.
During the first court session, she reportedly stated that the allegations were not presented accurately. The defense argued that she had neither known the child’s age nor met the child in person.
According to the defense, this challenged both her knowledge and any direct involvement in the alleged conduct. The case focused from the outset on what Punsiripanya was presumed to have known about the worker.
Alleged failure to verify age at hiring
According to the indictment, Punsiripanya had been responsible for recruitment and hiring at the salon since February 2024. Prosecutors claimed that in June 2025 she hired a child without sufficiently checking the person’s age.
The indictment stated that the child’s mother contacted the salon and said she wanted to work there again together with her child. Prosecutors alleged that the manager approved this hiring without appropriate age verification.
The accusations centered on whether the steps taken to confirm the worker’s age met legal and professional obligations. This raised broader questions about hiring practices in similar businesses.
Co-defendant salon owner and alleged joint plan
The salon operator, Masayuki Hosono (52), was also charged in the same case. Prosecutors said Punsiripanya and Hosono had acted in a coordinated manner.
At the heart of the trial was the issue of shared responsibility for recruitment and deployment of staff. The court examined which of the two defendants played which role in the situation that led to the alleged exploitation.
Both defendants had to answer allegations of joint planning of the acts. The proceedings aimed to clarify how responsibilities were divided between the manager and the salon owner.
Investigation findings and timeline
The child travelled to Japan with the mother in June 2025. The case came to light when the child turned to the Japanese Immigration Services Agency in September and sought help.
The child was then taken into protective custody. In December of the same year, the minor returned to Thailand.
The mother was arrested in Thailand that same month, among other things on suspicion of human trafficking. Authorities in both countries became involved following the child’s approach to immigration officials.
Legal status and next steps in the case
The trial had not yet concluded. Prosecutors were expected to present their evidence, and the court would assess the responsibility of the accused.
The case was considered significant for defining the duties of salon operators and managers in verifying the ages of employees. The hearings in Tokyo were expected to last several weeks.
The outcome could set important precedents for the protection of children in employment relationships in Japan and other countries. Observers viewed the proceedings as a potential benchmark for future regulation and enforcement in similar sectors.