KOFU -- A district court judge accused of violating a law against stalking by persistently sending anonymous e-mails to a subordinate admitted to the charges against him as his trial opened in the Kofu District Court on Friday.

The 55-year-old judge, Yoshiharu Shimoyama, said there was "no doubt" over the allegations against him. It is only the third time in Japan for an incumbent judge to face a criminal trial. The previous case involved a Tokyo High Court judge who was convicted of violating the law against child prostitution.

In their opening statements in the case, public prosecutors said Shimoyama had romantic feelings for a woman, but she began to avoid him, so he sent e-mails to her posing as another person, trying to get close to her by being empathetic.

In the hearing, lawyers for Shimoyama read out a message from him saying, "All I can do is express my apologies toward the victim. I feel ashamed at the stupid actions I've carried out."

Shimoyama was accused of sending 16 e-mails to the cell phone of a subordinate in her 20s between February and March this year, while he was serving as head of the Tsuru branch of the Kofu district and family courts, making sexual references in the e-mails. In one e-mail he reportedly wrote, "Lunchtime was fun, wasn't it? It was like there was perfect physical chemistry!"

While sending anonymous e-mails, there were also some that revealed his identity. Shimoyama allegedly took on two roles in the e-mails: stalker and advisor to the woman.

Shimoyama passed the bar exam in 1981, and in April 2004 he was appointed head of the Tsuru branch of the Kofu district and family courts. In April this year he became head of the Ashikaga branch of the Utsunomiya district and family courts. The Supreme Court has sought prosecution of Shimoyama, filing a request to have him dismissed in an impeachment trial, and the Diet's judge indictment committee is conducting an investigation.

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