For second time in a year.. Sex scandal hits Japan national team

Japanese police have arrested national football team player Kaisho Sano on charges of sexually assaulting a woman, local media reported on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder and two friends, also in their 20s, sexually assaulted the woman at a Tokyo hotel on Sunday, Japanese broadcaster NHK and other media reported, citing unnamed police sources.

Police reportedly arrested the three near the hotel immediately after receiving a call from the woman, who is said to be in her 30s.

Agence France-Presse contacted police to inquire about the case, but received no response.

Sano, who has played four times for Japan and was part of the team's squad for this year's Asian Cup in Qatar, joined German club Mainz earlier this month from Kashima Antlers.

Japanese football has already experienced a similar case this year when Junya Ito, who plays for French club Rennes, left the Asian Cup in February after Japanese police said he was being investigated for alleged sexual assault in Osaka last year. Ito has denied the allegations and is suing his accusers, seeking 200 million yen ($1.3 million) in damages.