Hiroshima: Man in skirt, wig suspected in sexual assaults

Hiroshima Prefectural Police are investigating a string of incidents in Kure City in which women were sexually assaulted by a man wearing women’s clothing, reportsHiroshima Home Television (Feb. 29). At approximately 2:00 a.m. on February 10, Takahiro Murakami, a 41-year-old company employee, allegedly came up from behind a woman walking home in the Washonoborimachi and fondled her body. Murakami was attired in a wig and a skirt at the time of the incident. Murakami, who has been charged with sexual assault, admits to the allegations. “Wearing women’s clothing is a way of alleviating a woman’s wariness,” according to TV Asahi (Feb. 29). In carrying out the attack, the suspect called out to the woman, asking if she had any problems. After grabbing hold of her, he put his hand over her mouth so that she could not scream. Police suspect that Murakami was involved in a number of similar crimes that have taken place...