A former sumo wrestler has been arrested on suspicion of swindling a Tokyo woman out of about ¥7.3 million while promising to marry her, police officials said Wednesday.
Hisao Akimoto, 43, unemployed, allegedly defrauded the 41-year-old female office worker from last September to October, soliciting loans from her by saying he needed them for his work while passing himself off as an architect, they said.
Akimoto became acquainted with the woman, who lives in Minato Ward, through an online marriage matching service and proposed they marry and live together, according to investigators.
He lives in a luxury apartment with a monthly rent of ¥400,000 in the posh Shirokane area in Minato Ward and used a rented limousine to take her on dates, they said.
According to the police, Akimoto has admitted to the allegations, saying he used the money for his rent and to eat and drink.
They suspect he has defrauded other women because there was some ¥15 million in his bank account.
According to the Japan Sumo Association, Akimoto joined the Kasugano stable in 1984 after graduating from high school and debuted that March.
After being promoted to the minor "makushita" rank, he retired from sumo in March 1985.
He later took some part-time jobs, including as a waiter.