A hidden camera scandal involving teachers has sparked serious concern in Japan. On July 1, the Ministry of Education issued a notice calling for stricter discipline and more training to prevent sexual misconduct among teachers. But many are skeptical that this alone will fix the deeper problem.
What happened?
Two elementary school teachers—one in Nagoya and one in Yokohama—were arrested in late June for secretly filming young girls and sharing the footage in a group chat with other teachers. Reports say about 10 teachers were in that group, but not all have been identified. The Education Minister urged anyone involved to come forward and stop working with children—but many doubt they will.
Just days later, another Nagoya teacher was fired for multiple cases of sexual misconduct. He had already been arrested for putting bodily fluids on a girl’s backpack and later charged with putting fluids on musical instruments and lunch utensils. He was also reportedly part of the same group chat as the two arrested teachers.
Increasing, repeated problem
This isn’t an isolated case. In 2023 alone, 157 teachers in public schools were punished for sexual misconduct—a rise from 119 the year before. Despite a 2022 law meant to crack down on abusive teachers, the number hasn’t gone down.
Classroom posters now warn students to watch out for inappropriate behavior by teachers, showing how serious and widespread the issue has become.
A history of abuse and silence
In one private high school case, a principal was accused of repeatedly making inappropriate comments to a female student. The complaint only came to light through an anonymous student survey. The school investigated, but because the inquiry was handled internally, the issue was quietly dropped. Later that year, another teacher at the same school was arrested for paying a teenage girl for sex.
Trust in teachers is deteriorating
These stories are turning public reaction from “Why would a teacher do that?” to “It’s another teacher again?” Most teachers are honest and dedicated, but the growing number of incidents suggests a broader system failure—and even good teachers can’t ignore it. Letting misconduct go unchecked is a problem for the entire school community.
Bottom line:
Sexual misconduct by teachers is not rare—and it’s damaging trust in schools. Laws and posters aren’t enough. Schools, teachers, and education leaders need to take real responsibility and rethink how to protect students before more damage is done.
by MagazineKey4532