Japanese animation director Makoto Shinkai finally broke his silence regarding the arrest of producer Koichiro Ito over possessions of child pornography.
In a statement released on Twitter, the director, who worked with Koichiro on successful animated features like “Weathering with You” and “Suzume” stated that he was shocked to read the news about someone who is involved in the production of his works.
He wrote, “First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the victims. Also, I am truly sorry for causing anxiety to everyone who loves and supports my work.”
“I personally believe that the value of the work will not be harmed by the recent incident, but I think it is natural for it to be viewed with disbelief. That is very frustrating and sad,” he added.
52-year-old Ito has been accused of coercing a 15-year-old girl to send him nude selfies back in September 2021 over social media, which he reportedly paid for for USD 85. The exchange violated the Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act in Japan.
(Photo Source: THR, IMDb, Japanese Station)