The Oita District Court ruled that Ryoma Katori seriously injured his wife in March by punching and kicking her in the face while she was confined in their flat in the city of Oita with her wrists and ankles bound with adhesive tape.

In handing down the sentence, which was not suspended, Judge Sadahiro Ariga said the defendant’s act “should be strongly criticised as he committed the crime after losing his temper”.

According a defence lawyer, Katori had been trying for more than six months to find out who had been posting negative comments, including “stupid” and “bald,” on his online videos when in March he realised it was his wife as she had requested a friend to post similar comments.