The selection of Kaishu Sano for Japan's 2026 World Cup squad has reignited a difficult debate in Japan about accountability, rehabilitation, and what it means to represent a nation.
In July 2024, Sano was arrested on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse, allegedly involving two male acquaintances and a woman in her 30s at a Tokyo hotel. He was later released after a settlement was reportedly reached, and the case was dropped without prosecution. He spent approximately one year away from the national team before returning for World Cup qualifiers in June 2025, and has now been selected for the tournament itself.
What has brought this debate back into sharp focus is a post by the mayor of Yonago City — Sano's hometown in Tottori Prefecture — who publicly congratulated the player and defended the selection on grounds of rehabilitation: "Once a settlement has been reached and a non-prosecution decision issued, keeping someone from reintegrating into society indefinitely is going too far."
The mayor's framing has drawn significant backlash in Japan. Critics are not arguing against Sano's right to continue playing football professionally; rather, they draw a distinction between social reintegration and being elevated to a national symbol. Many have pointed out that the victim may be repeatedly exposed to the perpetrator's image through media coverage, advertisements, and public celebrations — a concern the mayor's statement did not address.
The football dimension adds another layer of complexity: Sano has become a key player for Mainz in the Bundesliga, and many believe his performances on the pitch effectively made him too valuable to leave out — regardless of the ongoing ethical questions.
This case raises broader questions about how societies balance the principles of rehabilitation with the responsibilities that come with representing a country on the world stage.