An All Nippon Airways captain has been jailed for sexually assaulting a flight attendant, after the court heard she was afraid to resist because she feared damaging her career.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced 44-year-old Ryota Mise to one year and eight months behind bars on Tuesday, July 14. Prosecutors had sought a two-and-a-half-year prison term.
The incident occurred during the early hours of October 10, 2023, in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, after Mise and the flight attendant had attended a group dinner with other crew members.
The pair had only met the previous day while working together on a flight.
According to the court, Mise repeatedly grabbed the flight attendant’s buttocks as they walked along a street and later continued touching her inside a convenience store.
During the trial, the flight attendant explained that she had been frightened to resist the captain because of his senior position and feared that confronting him could damage her career.
Presiding judge Takao Okawa said Mise had taken advantage of both the victim’s shock and the authority associated with his position as an airline captain.
The court described the assault as “despicable” and said Mise had behaved in a persistent manner while abusing the considerable difference in status between a captain and a flight attendant. The woman’s testimony was found to be convincing and highly credible.
“Playful behaviour”
Mise denied committing an offence, arguing that the pair had developed sufficient rapport during the group dinner and that he believed his actions would be viewed as playful behaviour.
However, the judge rejected this explanation, ruling that the captain’s position could have considerable influence over a flight attendant expected to follow his instructions while working.
The court also rejected arguments that communications sent by the flight attendant following the incident indicated that she had approved of his behaviour. The ruling reportedly found that this failed to acknowledge how victims of sexual assault may respond following an incident.
According to reports, the flight attendant initially raised the matter with ANA, prompting an internal investigation during which Mise admitted to touching her.
He was reportedly suspended from flying duties for two months but was subsequently permitted to return to the cockpit. The flight attendant later reported the incident to police, and Mise was eventually prosecuted in March 2025.
ANA removed him from flying duties again after details of the criminal case became public in March 2026. The airline has since said he has been removed from all duties.
Following the court’s decision, ANA said it took the ruling seriously and would continue strengthening its measures to prevent similar incidents.
“Harassment is an act that must never occur,” the airline said, adding that it would implement thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.
The case has drawn renewed attention to power imbalances within the airline industry, particularly when junior crew members may feel unable to challenge the behaviour of senior colleagues for fear of professional repercussions.
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