A 53-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at a central Japan court of sexually abusing his daughter when she was in high school eight years ago.

Former company executive Daimon Koji denied the charges in the first hearing at the Toyama District Court on Monday.

He is accused of sexual violence against his daughter, Fukuyama Riho, in August 2016.

Fukuyama, who is now 24, spoke to reporters in March after her father was arrested. She gave her real name, and accused him of starting to abuse her when she was in junior high school.

In the hearing, Daimon admitted having sex with his daughter, but said she was not in a state of inability to resist.

Prosecutors told the court that Daimon had inflicted violence against his daughter, instilling fear in her, and had sex with her several times.

They said she was concerned about the possible danger to her younger sister. They also said the victim was unable to resist because the family depended on the father's income and she wanted to attend high school and go on to university.

A lawyer for the defendant said Daimon had hit her before, but it was within the scope of discipline and did not cause fear. The lawyer also said there were times when she refused her father by shaking off his hand.

The defense counsel argued that Daimon should be criticized morally and ethically, but is innocent as he did not make her unable to resist by using violence.

Fukuyama reportedly plans to question the defendant in the court through her lawyer.