Japanese teacher punches high school boy in face; social media on his side

Who gives a crap what social media says about the situation. The teacher is flat out, 100% wrong here!

He assaulted the student. No matter what a student says, the teacher has no right to assault him, his job was to defuse the situation, be he escalated it because he had no self control.

He should be charged!

Oh and another thing, if posts with videos of people coming of age need to be pixelated for whatever reason, reposting this here, with the face of an under-aged teenager, and without his permission is what?

Kids today would never survive my days of education. My dad would have probably asked the teacher why he hit me only once. Kids need to how more respect for their elders. Too many parents these days both here and abroad side for their kids too much in situations like this.

This is nothing in this situation that can't be remedied by relaxing the arbitrary and ridiculous rules. An earring or a girl's hair ornament or hair colour/style or nail polish or make up or any number of innocuous things which fall into the category of body ornaments are irrelevant to the soul of the individual who is there to receive an education.

I taught for 34 years and still remember (both vividly and sadly) the day that a 16 year-old pierced and studded, green-haired student told me that I was the first teacher who saw past his fashion choices and responded to him warmly and generously as a person.

In sixteen years and likely more than 30 teachers, the only one? Pathetic.

Of course. I understand. The whole world will go to pieces if standards aren't upheld. In Japan more especially than elsewhere. But remember: Life is short. Why waste precious, finite time on things that do not matter?

GREAT JOB on the teachers part. Even in a heated argument with the student the teacher was still in a teaching mood and with just one punch thought the student a valuable life lesson to Respect His Elders.

I like the part when his dragged him on the floor like a Human Broom. Loud mouth, Can't take a punch and used as a broom. I am sure he won't mouth off to any other teacher or adult again. Once again GREAT JOB

he lost his self control and now he will have to pay, literally

Too sad. A nation with no respect of teachers is a nation of failed education.

What a great example for the world to see where Japanese teachers offer ‘a fist to the face’ as a means to educate their charges-pathetic!

I agree with the teacher. Students today have no respect. I experienced corporal punishment when I was a kid. I was fine. Good on the teacher for not putting up with a yankee brat. smack him around more.

When you grow up in an abusive family and have abusive teachers the tendency is to become an abusive adult as well. The teacher is "teaching" this boy that violence is an acceptable method of working out a disagreement.

Why didnt the teacher walk away? Why did the teacher escalate the problem by pushing the boy? Because the teacher himself was on a power trip. He wanted the boy to do what he told him to do without talking back. He was in effect bullying the boy into submission, and proves it by assaulting him!

Yubaru, why would you blame the teacher instead of the one who made the trouble ?

Yubaru, why would you blame the teacher instead of the one who made the trouble ?

Wearing an earring is a "trouble maker"? This is not the entire story, however, the teacher is to blame for losing his cool, and he assaulted the student, not the other way around.

Without any other information it is impossible to know how it got to this point, and the only "proof" of anything we have is the teacher assaulting the boy.

Too sad. A nation with no respect of teachers is a nation of failed education.

So a nation with teachers who use violence to discipline their students is a nation of success? That is too sad!

Yubaru, if a student would be allowed to yell and shout at his teacher, what kind of nation is that ?

Who gives a crap what social media says about the situation. The teacher is flat out, 100% wrong here!

He assaulted the student. No matter what a student says, the teacher has no right to assault him, his job was to defuse the situation, be he escalated it because he had no self control. 

He should be charged!

This is undeniable if you have any sense of civility. It's amazing there are people that disagree with this. The teacher is the adult and authority figure.

A chest bump from the student to the teacher is provocation, unwarranted and assault. The teacher responded and protected himself. A punch to the face was a bit much, maybe a man slap would have sufficed. Either way, teachers have a hard job as it is without these Yankee morons thinking they rule over everyone and everything.

Personally, if it had been my son, I'd be having words with that teacher, but a lot more words with my son!

Yubaru, if a student would be allowed to yell and shout at his teacher, what kind of nation is that ?

So what you are saying is that you support the use of violence to force people (students) to submit to the authority of a teacher? You also, in effect, are advocating the use of violence to solve problems.

Besides the poor parenting evident in the video, no one and I mean no one should be allowed to lay a hand on someone else's child. NO ONE

I saw this kind of situation once or twice when I was a student.

Teachers have a hard job and are often stressed out, so when a little punk like that tries to boss them around, it's not surprising if they snap.

At least it's a valuable lesson for the kid who learned he is not so tough.

A chest bump from the student to the teacher is provocation, unwarranted and assault. The teacher responded and protected himself. 

Watch the video again, the teacher , with crossed arms walked directly into the boy and pushed him, then the teacher punched the boy. The student did not instigate the assault.

So what you are saying is that you support the use of violence to force people (students) to submit to the authority of a teacher? You also, in effect, are advocating the use of violence to solve problems.

It's insane how many people aren't getting it. Nobody is saying the students shouldn't face consequences, we are saying the consequences he did face were extremely inappropriate. This is not the Stone Age.

Watch the video again, the teacher , with crossed arms walked directly into the boy and pushed him, then the teacher punched the boy. The student did not instigate the assault.

No need to even watch the video, its in the article:

Eventually, though, the teacher offers a much more physical rebuttal, chest-bumping the student away from him

Yubaru, where did you get the idea that I support violence ? And what is your definition of violence ?

This is armchair psychology to see physical discipline equates to violence later in life. Physical discipline has it's place. What determines a repetition of "violence" is more dependent on the overall family relationships (closeness, trust) and socio-economic factors than the physicality itself. Kids who grow up abusive not just only because they were beaten but because their family situations were Sh#T to begin with. A beating with a talk and an explanation/apology afterwards can be productive. A beating with constant aggressive, uncaring attitude is what builds hate and anger in children. Everyone has someone to blame, but some days, people need to know when they themselves are the @sshole.

The kid and his friend were looking for trouble and baiting the teacher. Why else would they video it? Smacking the kid wasn't the perfect way to handle it, but it was expedient and warranted. It would have been much better to have dealt with the kid's and his friend's issues way before it got to this stage. But it wasn't. In England, the teacher would probably have grabbed the kid and his buddy and marched them to the headmaster's office. But in Japan headmasters tend to be wimps.

Yubaru, where did you get the idea that I support violence ? And what is your definition of violence ?

Because you are making comments to me that show your support of the teacher. So whether you state it openly or otherwise, your silence regarding the teachers actions is a sign of support for them.

If a punch to the face is not an act of violence I wonder what YOU think is the definition of violence?

Yubaru, I simply stated that teachers should be respected, what is wrong with that ?

@Akie

Yubaru, if a student would be allowed to yell and shout at his teacher, what kind of nation is that ?

Its called assault and if you do it as an adult to another adult you would be in jail - so why is it OK to assault a student.

With Yubaru all the way on this. I can't believe all the support this teacher is getting for basically teaching the kid that violence is the way to go.

Yes, the kid is a stupid loudmouth with no respect for authority, who deserves a slap-down; but this teacher did not teach him to respect authority. He taught him it's OK to hit someone to get your own way.

Children should be being taught that nothing is ever solved through violence. Or through losing your temper.

Wearing an earring is a "trouble maker"? This is not the entire story, however, the teacher is to blame for losing his cool, and he assaulted the student, not the other way around.

Totally agree, Yubaru.

I'm surprised there are so many here condoning teacher student violence. The teachers are supposed to set healthy examples, not to mention it is illegal to assault someone. The teachers in Japan need to have more in their repertoire than violence and ignorance when it comes to disciplining children. The attitudes of most involved at schools (both students and teachers) in Japan are absurd. It's not education.

Was the right-cross extreme? Sure

So lets say the teacher follows Yubaru’s 23rd century social norms and the kid never faces real life consequences of his bullying.

What’s the other extreme?

The bullying continues but is now out of the class and outside of school property. He’s still bullying and then a younger smaller kid getting bullied by this kid throws himself from the top of a building or jumps in front of a train.

BigYen,

Perhaps the spelling should be "Yankii." In Japanglish it means a kind of drop out. This article gives a good explanation:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2002/07/05/language/our-yankii-are-different-from-your-yankees/#.XEeqay2B2OE

Yubaru, while I don't condone the teacher's violence, simply walking away isn't a realistic option either.

That sends the message of weakness and students would likely bully that teacher relentlessly, especially those who associate with this young man. 'He can't/won't do anything if we _____. So let's do it. That'll be fun.'

The teacher should've taken a different course of action, I agree. Walking away though? No.

He needed to discipline the disrespectful student who broke the rules, which he and his parents agreed to follow.

There are occasions when I have discipline students as well (as an ALT), but my school's students are rarely disrespectful and often don't put up a fuss. They may run away from time to time when they're about to be caught though. But I've never seen a student verbally berate a teacher here.

I never grew up with corporal punishment in school, so I know it isn't necessary. But for it to work, I believe that it starts at home.

He decked him.

A friend of mine suffered a cracked skull from hitting his head on a wall after being decked in a fight. Fortunately, there was no permanent damage. Some aren’t so lucky.

Regardless of your views on corporal punishment, and this kid seems to be a real brat, isn’t a full punch in the face from a grown man to a 15-year-old excessive and dangerous?

It's good that the pupil was disciplined and punished. It's bad that it was done physically and fortunate that the pupil did/could/would not fight back. What if the teacher loses the fight? Do teachers who lose in a physical altercation deserve a kicking?

From what I can gather, Japanese teachers have very few options when it comes to punishing kids. There is no detention, for starters. Teachers also seem to be given very little training full stop.

So lets say the teacher follows Yubaru’s 23rd century social norms and the kid never faces real life consequences of his bullying.

But the kid did not 'face real life consequences of his bullying'. All he learned is that he needs to aim his bullying at those smaller and weaker than himself, just like his teacher taught him.

That younger smaller kid still ends up under the train.

isn’t a full punch in the face from a grown man to a 15-year-old excessive and dangerous?

It's way beyond the pale.

Regardless of what was being said, you cannot dent that the teacher was wrong. You cannot strike out in anger with your fist as a teacher.

I understand that the dynamic really changes when theres another male who is about your height and insulting you, but you are the one who has to know better.

That also does not mean that kid didnt deserve a smack. Looks like a typical pampered brat who’s on the fasttrack to nowhere.

Yep, have to say the teacher showed a lot of restraint until the end, but everyone has their limit. This young punk crossed his. If he thinks he is old enough to confront an adult like this , overstepping the boundaries of acceptable student behavior then the teacher just followed suit. If the teacher was totally on his game maybe it wouldn’t have come to this, but it’s a hard job and kids like this just need a good slapping. Old school , effective. Teacher 1 - punk 0. The older generation still has some mettle was the lesson learned here.

Idiots that support the kid, beware of what you wish for,

Yubaru.......I would be inclined in saying that both are at fault here. Students should follow the rules of the school, no matter what. And teachers keep their cool. By the way....I was disciplined a lot by my family with corporal punishment....but I don’t abuse my wife or anyone. You are wrong there buddy.

The teacher was set up. Multiple students decided to "get him" and probably were pushing his buttons all week before staging this video. If the teacher had just taken the earring, that was showing poor judgement. Always have 2 teachers present when confronting a student on something likely to cause escalation.

The teacher should have controlled the situation better and needs to be punished for a minor assault.

The student needs to be expelled for speaking to a teacher in that way, no question.

Why waste precious, finite time on things that do not matter?

Appearance does matter in many situations. An earring isn't a big deal since it can be removed and the hole will close in a few months, but other body modification CAN limit career options.

this is a crime, teachers do not have the right to physically discipline the student. the teacher is probably sadistic man, they should check if he abuse his family as well,

some students will stand with the teacher because they taught to self-blame.

Most likely a broken home and crappy parenting.

Violence is never the solution but there's always going to be a line to cross. This young adult just crossed it.

2 weeks suspension for both and call it a day.

But the kid did not 'face real life consequences of his bullying'. All he learned is that he needs to aim his bullying at those smaller and weaker than himself, just like his teacher taught him.

He was bullying someone older and bigger. I’d say he faced a “real life” consequence. That’s why kids need to be taught to defend themselves. It’s amazing how fast the bullying stops when the bully has to go to school the next day with a black eye.

Yea, flat out, aggravated assault. He should be fined and fired, at the very least. The social media commentators must be a rare group. I don't know any Japanese people that would condone this, even the irritated salarymen on rush hour trains. Some posters on here are arguing "be careful what you wish for" or the punk had it coming. What if it was your kid? You advocate assault, think being talked rude to is grounds for physically assaulting someone? I knew a guy who got decked, went down, head hit the floor, dead. Not boxers, not gym trainers, just average guys having a spit. This teacher is lucky the kids walked away with a bruise and a cut. If Japan doesn't prosecute him, it just goes to show how screwed up the system is here and what lack of morals they have in the Justice system...

To those of you stating  corporal punishment. I don't believe this is a case of  corporal punishment. The student got in the teacher's face and disrespected authority. The student shouldn't have verbally attacked the teacher. The teacher lost his cool. To which I believe was wrong. And if the student chest butted the teacher, then I see self defense. I saw the video and can't really tell who butted who.

Well done on the teacher! That is exactly the approach that needs to be readopted, especially when 16 year old can speak like that ( and no translation doesnt do it justice.. that student was talking like a chimpila, and I would have punched him much sooner )

The teacher should be applauded, student expelled and made to example, and next one lashing out at grown ups next time should receive even harsher punishment.

those above that say teacher is wrong, you are exactly the reason why most young generation today are spineless little nothings, that have no respect to anyone and too stuppid to understand it. They scream a lot and attack in groups like tiny hienas , the funny bit is when you punch one proper .. the rest scatter.

So this kid thinks that the rules don't apply to him. His reaction is to abuse the teacher for upholding the rules. If somewhere in his future he continues this attitude he will be unemployable. If nothing changes he will be that kid that abuses your wife, your daughter, or you, in the street and on the train. A lesson to be learnt is that if you keep pushing someone, then eventually you will be dealt with in kind. Lets hope he reflects on this.

There are a lot of people on here saying teachers shouldn't be allowed to behave this way. But in the UK where this teacher would be immediately suspended then eventually sacked, teachers are now routinely punched, stabbed and murdered by their pupils. There are even police permanently located in high schools and knife arches to search the pupils for weapons. Much better to let the teachers defend themselves and to require pupils to respect teachers on pain of direct teacher retribution. Well done the Japanese teacher. He should be applauded.

Teacher most likely knows some aiki-jujitsu, judging by the way in which he submitted the kid on the floor.

The teacher walked into and chest bumped the kid. If that had been a non-japanese national who threw the punch (even if the one punched walked into the puncher), forget about it! They'd throw the book at e'm!... the double standards of their rules are unbelievable.

I spent a decade working in junior and senior high schools in Japan, and this kind of behavior is not rare. What I realized is that the kid wants attention more than anything. The teacher is playing into his hands by spending time with him, lecturing him, and so on. Most kids would rather be praised than punished, but they would also rather be punished than ignored.

The better course of action is to deny the student what the student wants- attention. The kid is gaining reputation and/or notoriety among his classmates by having the teacher behave this way towards him. I used to see it all the time- students would provoke reactions from teachers over trivial stuff, then sit back and bask in all the attention they get.

Best course of action for the teacher- just ignore the little troublemaker. He's got an earring? Deal with it after class. Kick the problem upstairs- either to the school administration or the parents. No need to engage on such a serious level about it, or spend so much time dealing with it. Don't give the student what they really want, which is attention. If anything, try to find something positive they do and give them attention for that. Did they manage to bring their textbook to class? Notice and praise them.

Getting too involved will only result in what we saw in this video clip. The teacher got emotionally invested in the conflict as well as the student. This led to a stupid overreaction. Teachers have to be the adult in the situation.

Deadforgood* if this was my kid I’d be sending a box of fruit and an thankyou letter to the teacher you say deserves to lose his job. Keep molleycoddling the millennials. See what happens.

@Alex Einz you are not the law, you are not a police man, if some kid insult you, you would hit him?

even if adult insulted you, you can insult him back, or report to authority,

we don't live in caves anymore. We have justice system and proper punishment,

and the students should learn that from the teacher.

now the students have learned; when someone talk back to you, hit them if you are bigger!

even if the student hit first the teacher is bigger and stronger, he should just restrain the student.

this punch could have killed the student.

.All teachers know that physical discipline to a student is against school rules, those rules that apply to the staff.  He knew this but, even in his anger, chose to escalate the situation.  We all must adhere to the same rules of conduct.  This is not a point of negotiation.  Taking the boy to the staffroom and including other teachers would have been the right action.  We all filled out the bullying/violence questionnaires and things have changed somewhat since then.

The boy is clearly out of order and deserved discipline, not violence.  The teacher will loose his job.  Prison time seems harsh, a suspended sentence would suffice.

Once again repeating the cycle of violence that plagues mankind. No one stops to think that perhaps because of societies strict and arbitrary rules, and confining young people forcibly in these institutions in the first place is what leads them to lash out in such a way. Young people's minds can't process it the same way a fully grown adult can. So, instead of empathizing with a student clearly in need of help, he punches him in the face.

All that will do is show the student, and all the students who witnessed the ordeal, that using violence on those weaker than you is OK. This is why we still have bullying, restrictive and coercive laws, wars, etc. The cycle of violence continues for another generation. When will we learn?

In the good old days, unruly charges and children were dealt with beatings. Those people learned to stay in their place and be more respectful of others, and even gained respect for themselves. When we refuse to physically punish those who challenge authority, we teach them there is no authority, when those who see how far they can go can walk forever they believe there is no limits, no reason to respect anyone. its the lack of physical discipline that is destroying people's respect for other people. We need to bring back corporal punishment and beatings in school and society because it worked. Non violence is about people feeling good about themselves, spewing platitudes, living in a world of dreams and ideology, not facing what works best.

We need more teachers and authorities to stand up against not only abusive, but disrespect, Disrespect eventually destroys the relationships between all people and eventually hurts society as a whole.

On the fence with this one, punching the student in the face is way over the top and dangerous, but school is partly for learning how not to become an idiot like that kid and to become a responsible member of society. I assume he takes that attitude of his outside of school as well.

Either way, hopefully this is a big learning experience for both the student and teacher, but the teacher would likely have to face some punishment here

This kid would've been punished like a POW if he tried to pull that kind of attitude a decade ago. During my high school days (late 2000's), there were people who always dared to violate the school dress code but would never be up in a teacher's face like this. In defense of kids these days, I'd say that society today made kids either a lot nicer and considerate or making more self-entitled punks. On the teacher's side, People are just human beings, push anyone **far enough and no matter how much self-control, discipline, fear of the law they have, something's gotta give. Luckily, this teacher knocked (hopefully) some sense into the kid and gets expelled. Getting physical is not always the answer, but sometimes it's the only way **

Let's all remember that, when the video was shot, the situation had already been resolved! According to the story, the teacher had already removed the offending earring. There was no need to engage with the student any more, stand and listen to his whining, or do anything else. Take the earring to the principal's office and give it to the staff there, then go back to class. If the student doesn't want to cooperate, fine. Let him stand in the hall and shout at thin air.

As the adult in the situation, the teacher needs to have the cool head. Unfortunately, my experience has been that teachers in Japan don't really get any training or education themselves in how to properly discipline their classes. Universities and colleges that award teaching licenses don't spend much time covering issues like this. So teachers are often woefully unprepared to deal with stressful situations.

If earrings are against the rules then ask the boy to remove them, or send him home. If he won't comply suspend or expel him. That's all that needs to be done.

" taught for 34 years and still remember (both vividly and sadly) the day that a 16 year-old pierced and studded, green-haired student told me that I was the first teacher who saw past his fashion choices and responded to him warmly and generously as a person."

Bro... You are a teacher, and you are not seeing the picture here. I was that same kid. Mohawk, sunglasses, fishnets, black nail polish. I would say HALF my teachers saw past all that. The thing was, It was all within the rules, all playing by the system. I was breaking social norms, but I wasn't breaking school rules. School rules are school rules. I could have a Mohawk, but I couldn't wear a baseball cap or cowboy hat in class, so I never wore a hate.

He knew this but, even in his anger, chose to escalate the situation

He didn’t seem angry to me.

We don’t know how long this punk has been misbehaving/bullying in class. He’s wearing an earring that he knows is not allowed. This behavior could have been going on since September. The student is the one who kept escalating, not the teacher. The teacher brought the escalation to a quick end. Maybe now the “shamed” parents (so sad, too bad) will get involved in this kids “attention seeking” life so he won’t have to seek it in negative ways.

About “setting the teacher up”. That’s also a BIG guess. The other students in class, naturally curious but are not part of any conspiracy, could have wanted to film it for laughs, or it could have been a student who was constantly being bullied by the loud mouth.

My Blizzard of Oz concert T-shirt was as far as I went dress wise. But, apparently, pulling your pants down and mooning the bus behind you is against school rules. I was suspended, but my father asked for a grand performance. Needless to say, I never did that again.

I think that the schools and its administrators, as well as the general state of the educational system as regards the lack of appropriate degrees of punishment for varying degrees of infraction, are responsible for this outcome. We have seen stories like this before and it appears that there is often little remedy for teachers to deal with individuals in their classroom who require more 'specialized' attention.

Yubaru : If you read the article you would know that earrings are not allowed to be worn at school and the earring was confiscated and student was disciplined for wearing the earring which made the student angry.

So he was belligerent towards the teacher started talking loud / yelling at the teacher using profanity. As you can see in the video the student kept getting close to the teacher in the teachers comfort zone, so in return the teacher defended himself. Now if the student would have just talked with the teacher as a normal person I'm sure the teacher would not have knocked him down with a punch or dragged him on the floor. Lack of respect by the student is the cause of this incident. Have you ever heard the phrase "Old School" well this was an Old School beat down. Two thumbs up for the teacher.

These days teenagers are going over the top for anything, result of decades of complacence by their parents that didn't know themselves the discipline and hardships of less fortunate times. The teacher didn't slap the student for no reason. Even if is not the best, this will serve as a reminder to the student that his rights finish where someone else's rights start, and that is one of the best things to happen to a rebel teenager that started to get off the tracks. It even may have helped prevent him from starting a life of crime with worse consequences.

Shame on that teacher for not punching the little punk a second time just for good measure.

Student should of gave him an uppercut and a kick to the family jewels..

That kid had it coming for sure. Maybe now he'll learn a little respect

Hm, I think adults should take the high road.

As a teacher you can't take anything kids say to you personally. Sometimes they come from terrible homes where that's all they've known. You have to show them that while their little world might work that way, in general society doesn't, and that violence is not socially acceptable in most cases as a solution to problems/outlet for feelings. A teacher shouldn't want kids to stay in and perpetuate that culture where verbal and physical abuse is normal communication. I think a teacher should try to show what a civil society does to right injustices and air grievances, perhaps laid out to the student steps he could take to bring the issue formally to school governance.

The teacher doesn't say it was self-defense but that he simply lost temper

I lost my temper at the student’s words and became violent

It seems likely this kind of problem wasn't an isolated incident, I wonder if the school is making sure students and teachers have training and procedures to de-escalate situations and follow some kind of "due process" when confrontations and differences occur.

I am a firm believer in corporal punishment, not exactly of THIS kind, but...there are limits to what a superior should have to endure. My mother would have beat me again when we got home. As one saying in my old South Bronx neighborhood goes, don't let your mouth write a check your behind can't cash. Maybe that student will stay in line now.

 If you read the article you would know that earrings are not allowed to be worn at school and the earring was confiscated and student was disciplined for wearing the earring which made the student angry.

I know the reason, yet the teacher handled it poorly to say the least!

That does not forgive the teacher for assaulting the student, and the teacher KNOWS it too. He did not expect to be videoed either, but now will pay for his actions. I will also make a bet here that IF the school and or police investigate this incident they will find that this is not the first time this teacher has punched or hit a student.

The teacher brought the escalation to a quick end. Maybe now the “shamed” parents (so sad, too bad) will get involved in this kids “attention seeking” life so he won’t have to seek it in negative ways.

Actually quite the opposite, as now this is going to be turned over to the authorities and more than likely an investigation by both the police and BOE.

It's not over by any stretch of the imagination, in fact I would say it's just starting.

I once broke up a 2nd grade junior high school student picking on a 1st grade (physically handicapped) student.  I pulled them apart whereas the 2nd grader proceded to grab my shirt with both hands.  He quickly ended up on the floor on his back with me over him.  He did not see anger in my face, he only saw that he was powerless to resist.  That day he learned a valuable lesson.  We later became best buds.  He just needed to learn that his behavior was unacceptable.  Physical persuasion can be done tactifully without anyone getting hurt.  A firm but kind hand can go a long way. 

S

He’s a high school student......... not in Marine Boot Camp.

Funny how the thumbs up (pro teacher) comments are through the roof. Teachers should be held to higher standards remember??

Why did everyone slam that teacher a couple months ago who invited a schoolgirl into his room and gave her alcohol during that school excursion?? Hmm?

The teacher should be fired and arrested for assault or is child abuse acceptable in Japan?

This is not just a clear case of no tolerance on this teacher lashing out, partly because of circumstance and partly because it occurs in a public school in Japan, where the standards of violence are different than some other countries. If this were a school in the states, or a private school, the teacher would not survive his job.

On the other hand, the student would not be in the teacher's face screaming insults, either. I'd think both the student getting expelled and the teacher getting fired would happen in any international type private school in Japan, but his manners would never have quite come to that point, as he'd likely already had major problems with the school and teachers in elementary years leading to parent/teacher/kid/administration meeting years much earlier, where he either learns proper school etiquette or he would have been expelled.

In this case, I don't condone the teacher hitting the kid, but that kid had it coming. Although I think the teacher's approach to the situation was wrong, there's more bad on the kid's side, and he may or may not learn his lack of control and big mouth could get him into even more violent problems in the future.

Kids today would never survive my days of education. My dad would have probably asked the teacher why he hit me only once. Kids need to how more respect for their elders. Too many parents these days both here and abroad side for their kids too much in situations like this.

So, true. I've taught my kids to show respect to others. Now, if there were some disagreement, such as a teacher telling my kids, "That's too hard for you," or "You're not ready for that yet," then I would ask my kid for the whole details and gone to the school to hear the other side of the situation. It happened to one of my kids once who wanted to expand her knowledge and and interest in English with a Moana fill in the blanks song. Her teacher said that that's to advanced for her and she cried. My wife (Japanese) and I were really angry (to put it politely) and wanted to go to her teacher. Fortunately, she was going to the US to study and my parents told us to leave it alone, but to confront the teacher if he continues that way with her.

Sometimes someone deserves a slap and that student deserved a slap. I dispute that it's bullying him and teaching him that violence is the way, I believe it teaches him that there are consequences to being a little $h!t.

"Deserves"? No one ever deserves a slap! If you can not come up with better ways to discipline a student then you (figuratively speaking here) should not be in the teaching business.

I agree that the kid was a little shite. Never alluded to nor suggested anything otherwise, only that the teacher is 100% at fault for assaulting him.

No school in Japan allows corporal punishment, yet this was not a case of disciplining the student either, it was a confrontation between a student and teacher over a rule infraction by the student. No matter how much the kid yells at the teacher, the teacher has a duty to diffuse the situation, and cool it down, NOT allow it to escalate. He is over 50, he definitely should know better through experience.

For those of you with myopia, violence is not the only or most effective way to teach someone that there are consequences to your actions.

I understand that it satisfies our collective sense of outrage to say that the kid had it coming to him. It's a nice fantasy to muse about the kid taking the punch, realizing the error of his ways, and turning his life around. The teacher being praise/punished for bending the rules but everything working out in the end so....

Then, back here in the real world, adults don't throw the first punch at children. Ever. Educators are supposed to be the trained professionals in this kind of situation. If anything, they should be held to a HIGHER standard of behavior, not lower. If I were in that situation, I'd feel like giving the kid a quick slap too. Then, I'd realize that it just wasn't an option.

I’ve seen quite a few similar incidents after nearly twenty years of teaching in Japanese high schools and universities although, this one is pretty severe. I admit that many of these 16 years are unruly and disrespectful punks, However, assault is not discipline. It is just assault. Discipline would be to remove the kid from the class and contact his parents. Punching him in the face just makes the teacher a bigger punk.

The amount of times I wanted to do this at an (Japanese owned, late paying and in instalments) eikaiwa in Kyoto were uncountable. Japan is done for.

adminstered a couple of whacks with a cane for the alleged offence 

I also got the same cane and a number of leather straps accross the butt, leather strap used by teachers and the cane by the head teacher. Oh that cane with a cheese cut stung like a son of a B! lol

forgot how many times. while the first one was memorable, with all the others it actaully became a competition who could get the most stripes, two stripes for corproal , 3 stripes for sergeant. but I do agree corporal punishment isnt really effective in teaching discipline.

Or take them to an island, give them weapons and see who comes out alive with their soft toy then smiles at the camera?

Heck, when I was a 5th grader I got a paddling on the rear end with a wooden board by the principal for doodling in class. I wasn't yelling insults at the principal, just doodling. This student never would have survived my elementary school.

Japanese need to remember to be good to their own.

I was taught to respect your parents, your teachers and your elders.

Unless they abused you.

It was simple, it was clear.

Unfortunately, too many kids now are not taught to respect their parents, teachers and elders.

In Japan.

Yes, teachers have a responsibility as adults, as teachers, as guardians of minors!

BUT....

A belligerent 16 yo student is not a 10 yo student.

Teachers have every right to defend themselves and maintain order!!

And if a student is determined to challenge the teacher's authority, then they deserve what they get!!

This kid belongs in a reformatory institution or some other place that will be able to deal with his problems!!

Not the teacher's fault!! Unless they can show that this teacher's abuse led to this!!

Sorry, but no sympathy for the "child" here....

So it seems for some a grown man punching a 15-year-old full in the face is okay for teachers.

Does anyone have an idea of a legal age for talking a punch from a teacher? Kindergarteners are a no-no I’d say.

Oh! this school just a walking distance from my home. And Yes Bravo teacher well done, I salute u for the diciplinary action.

However the media (eps. TV news) is broadcasting only the footage where the teacher hit him.

Later, the part where the kid yell at the teacher came out ONLY on internet.

What are they trying to do? Make teachers lose the dignity and what?

Education fails, the country fails.

A belligerent 16 yo student is not a 10 yo student.

Teachers have every right to defend themselves and maintain order!!

And if a student is determined to challenge the teacher's authority, then they deserve what they get!!

This kid belongs in a reformatory institution or some other place that will be able to deal with his problems!!

Not the teacher's fault!! Unless they can show that this teacher's abuse led to this!!

Sorry, but no sympathy for the "child" here....

@zone2surf - It depends on what you mean by "challenge the teacher's authority." If you read my post on my daughter challenging herself with the Moana exercise, then she does have a right since she likes Moana and has a big interest in English. However, if the student is just defying school rules without any just cause and being a punk (I would use another word), then respect for the school and the teacher is in order. From the article, we don't know what led to this, or how long the student kept his behavior going and whether the teachers met with his parents to discuss the matter.

@Chico3,

My wife and I have talked about this at length.

My wife is Japanese, went to Japanese school in the chiho and HATES teachers.

She saw the crap that happened as a result of bad teachers, bullying by teachers and the like.

But what she said was this:

-- Too many of her male classmates just decided to abuse teachers.

-- Teachers were left to their own devices by schools.

-- And many parents had lost the ability to discipline their own children.

She is well aware of this situation and her take is that the male student in question, while perhaps the victim of his own experiences, was at fault.

Because he decided to push the teacher to react rather than walking away. As she herself did in high school.

Yeah the teacher shouldn't have hit him and should be punished.

Also I'm not shedding any tears for this little brat.

Thank you teacher. This type of kid is the same type who walks around outside as if he runs these streets.

In Hawaii there's a thing called the "moke factor."

A moke is basically a physically big bully with no job or education that could kill you with one punch. Long story short, most people are smaller than mokes and know better than to make one angry.

In Japan there is no such person as a moke, so punks like this think it's ok to mouth off to someone much larger than them. There are also little to no consequences for doing bad things in school here.

The teacher shouldn't have STARTED with a fist to the face, a slap to the cheek would've sufficed. But maybe now the yankii won't be so quick to seem so tough.

And by the way, the Yankii's little friend better learn how to focus the camera better next time.

ScroteToday  10:34 am JST

If earrings are against the rules then ask the boy to remove them, or send him home. If he won't comply suspend or expel him. That's all that needs to be done.

That is easy to say but what do you do when the student won't get out of your face? Follows you, screams profanity in your face and just won't leave?

This is 100% on the teacher and he should be facing criminal charges of assault causing bodily harm. He is a professional educator (supposedly) with around 20 years teaching experience and he should have the skills and knowledge to discipline students without punching them in the face. Yes, boys in their mid-teens can be unruly and disrespectful, but that is no excuse for the teacher's actions.

And, just to settle the bickering, I've watched the video several times and although the boy was being very cheeky, he did not instigate the violence. It was the teacher who first pushed the boy wi9th his arms crossed against his cheat and then punched the kid in the face with a right hook. It was a punch, not a slap.

Is it not common to call parents in for a consultation if their kid acts up?

@since1981 - That is easy to say but what do you do when the student won't get out of your face? Follows you, screams profanity in your face and just won't leave?

What do you do? You act like an adult and ignore it. Then, if it persists you get assistance. You do not get aggressive and start swinging punches. I'm totally amazed by how many people are defending the teacher and making up excuses to support his actions. For all those who feel the teacher was right, I want you to ask yourself this question: How would you react if that was your son laying there on the hallway floor half unconscious after being punched in the face by his teacher? Would you be supporting the teacher? Somehow, I think not!

Teachers can't hit kids, with the potential exception of self defense, which this wasn't.

That said, it was an enjoyable watch.

It's like my black buddy said; freedom of speech gives people the right to say whatever (racist) crap they want. But they're idiots if they think that freedom will protect them from getting punched in the face.

So is that how you stop a kid shouting at a teacher... deck him? That teacher totally lost control if that is his reaction. He's meant to be an adult - not a yob fighting in the street.

So is that how you stop a kid shouting at a teacher... deck him?

Well, it did work. The kid shut up pretty quickly.

My wife and I have talked about this at length.

My wife is Japanese, went to Japanese school in the chiho and HATES teachers.

She saw the crap that happened as a result of bad teachers, bullying by teachers and the like.

@zones2surf - Well, that's great that you two discussed this. There's no excuse for bad teachers. Bad teachers leads to bad education as well as bad leadership, and yes, teacher bullying, which definitely is NOT tolerated. I would have gone postal on this, too. The unfortunate result is that students will continue to have disrespect for teachers and have a hard time trusting teachers. I hear you!

"What did you learn at school today, son?"

Japanese high school kid kicked me in the goolies once because I stopped him skateboarding in the corridor. Part of me wishes I could go back and give him a beautifully weighted crack on the jaw like this teacher did.

But yeah, teachers shouldn't be doing that etc.

I honestly cannot believe how many people in here think it's okay to hit a student like that! Sure, he was being a bratty loud-mouth, but getting physical like that is assault and absolutely unacceptable. If I was the kid's parents, I'd do anything to get him fired. You can't have a violent maniac like that teaching.

I bet some social media comments mentioned in the story are assuming that the teacher hit the kid, the kid now reflects on what he has done, and the whole matter is now wonderfully resolved and they'll all live happily ever after.

I'm sorry but you should not project what you might have seen on a cliched TV drama onto real-life situations. Violence usually leads to more incidents of violence, not wonderful resolutions.

two sides of the story:

1- regarding the boy, rules must be applied. If the earring is forbidden then he must respect, otherwise switch to another school. but it seems that the boy has a temper of bullying that he can be implemented toward his colleague.

2- the teacher should not be allowed this conversation in the first place, he must simply send the naughty boy to the school director, so he can take the necessary action.

the teacher should not allow this conversation ...... sorry for the typo

In the bad ol’ days when Japan had a more authoritarian society and corporal punishment was the norm then this might have been acceptable.

However, the outcome of such acceptance regarding this behavior in society proved to be a massive failure.

Anyone advocating for such violence is surely able to see that such a policy is unconscionable for Japan....

I'm going to sound like an old man saying this. Back in my day we had the cane and the slipper and teachers would throw chalk at us and I've seen plenty of teachers grab hold of students. But a punch is probably taking things too far, especially if the student fell on his head or had his jaw broken.

We all know many of today's problems with students are because they went politically-correct and banned all the punishments I had at school. But a punch is pushing it a bit too far.

36 consecutive years teaching here in Japan.

I agree with Yubaru.

No matter how 'bad' the kid is, the teacher should be both an adult and a role model.

Discipline the kid, no doubt. But that teacher should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Next thing you know, sports coaches will be condoning violence as an acceptable means of 'training', and then even Sumo rikshi will stoop to using violence to reinforce the hierarchy — or college football coaches as a means of winning.

Wait. Now where have I seen that before?

This video is just showing what is already the cultural norm of 'peaceful' Japan ... the end-game of an authoritarian society.

A common problem in high schools particularly. The teacher was clearly under quite some provocation. He should be cautioned though, and the pupil expelled.

Beat that smart ass punk of a kid.... teacher or not sorry that kid had it coming

Rumor control on another site covering this incident, no body stood up to this kid because his family are yakuza connected, as I said, beyond rumor I have no definite proof on the reliability of this but it could explain a lot about his attitude.

For those who speak Japanese ... a good analysis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bqGZoMwNTw&feature=youtu.be

Next time, call security or the authorities if it's about to escalate - they're trained to handle such situation

I am shocked at how my ignorant comments here are supporting violence. Yes the kid was very disrespectful, but violence is never ok, unless you are protecting yourself or others from other violence, especially an adult against a minor. Both should be disciplined, with the teacher, if not being outright fired, then the next closest option and the student being suspended or possibly expelled for his role. There is no doubt both were wrong, but there was only one adult in the room and he failed miserably to act like one.

great punch. I'm on teacher's side.

badman, the teacher doesn't want the kid to grow up as a bad man, so punched.

That punch wasn't even full on. Glancing blow at best...and that's generous.

The breeze from missing is what probably knocked the student down.

A good teacher. We need more like him.

"badman, the teacher doesn't want the kid to grow up as a bad man, so punched."

I concur wholeheartedly.

I even voted you up on this one.

The kid got some sense knocked into him.

Life is a learning curve, and it's the shock and consequence of actions that mostly define you as a person. Though it was a bit extreme for the teacher to plant him, that kid will remember that for the rest of his life and think twice about the way he conducts himself.

Kids are too overprotected these days and it's detrimental to not only their own lives but also society as a whole.

assault on a minor. put this lowlife teacher in jail and fire him. he should not be around children.

I now await the next time something like this happens and wait to see the JT hypocrites that supported THIS teachers actions, blow up against the next one, and lynch them in JT court.

Life hit him in the face. Seriously does he think this attitude will get him anywhere in life? Imagine this kid having a family and talking to his wife and kids like this.... this teacher taught him a valuable lesson

This boy might be a real rascal who needs some tough love but this is definitely NOT the way to handle it.

Solving the underlying problems that led to this will be difficult and will take a lot of communication between everyone involved, but it must be done, hopefully with valuable lessons learned all the way around.

I think students are over riding teachers in Japanese schools which is very bad because the teacher can't react. I have seen many occasion like that and it hurt to see teachers get bullying by student's. Parents should caution their children behavior in fact Japanese parents don't have time for their kids. They go to work and come back late no time to ask what did you study at school today or check their work book. But they have time to buy them gifts like games to become violence.

in my days of schooling, if i report the case to my parents and they go to school and find out what happen, only one thing will happen : i will be smashed again in front of all the teachers by my dad. students today are too impolite and immature, they can never survive, once they grow up and enter the cruel real life for earning anything to feed their stomach, they will know it

2 part problem,Teachers are over worked and stressed and maybe the student has home/life trouble and stressed.Yubaru is spot on!

It's unfortunate that's how it played out but I wouldn't call it violence

Tell that to the families:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-38992393

2 thumbs up for this teacher. For once, you have someone who's not bullying students, shaming them or some other nonsense. This student thinks he can talk tough to anyone, have no respect. Kinda stuff he obviously learned at home and was never disciplined over. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a school bully, as well. Think the teacher did him a favor in the end, because this kid will end up running his mouth to the wrong person out on the street, and at least now he will know in advance what the consequences of those actions will be.

So... there were no other options to be explored before he just hit him? Next time someone is being verbally aggressive toward me, can I just floor them? Can I just punch a kid (or adult) next time they disrespect me (an almost daily occurrence). I know how to punch quite well.

Answer honestly, do you not think that the school could introduce things like: manners, coaching, communication, detention, removal from class, suspension, expulsion as opposed to yelling at him and PUNCHING HIM?

OMFG the hypocrisy on these pages! Humanity has truly slipped backward to darker times. All over some earrings FFS!

Why were the senior teachers or principals? They are shutting and screaming in an open area- pretty unoccupied so it is surely late. I bet the senior staff went home early. That would be not be allowed in a school in the West.

Perhaps Japanese schools should have what are called "resource officers" in the US. These are sworn law enforcement officers who are typically armed. They do the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping the inmates (aka students) in line.

https://nasro.org/frequently-asked-questions/

Yeah, I can't believe people here support a grown adult committing a felonious assault and abuse of a child. It's sick.

When I was in high school I was a library volunteer, part of the job was running papers to the office, sometimes I would have to sit and wait. That's when I found out what really happened between parents and school. If I did something wrong in school both my parents would come to school, ask for a complete explanation and then my parents either let the school decide the punishment or punishment at home if they didn't feel the school was punishing me enough. But while waiting in the office I came to understand that many parents would come into the office yell and scream that their baby would never do what they did, while the kid stood their and smirked about it. The teacher/principal/counselors would eventually give into the parents and the kid would walk off, tell their friends that mom or dad (usually mom) put the teacher/principal/counselor in their place and everyone would make fun of the professional after that. Happened time and time again.

So if Mr Tough Guy learns to respect his teachers because of one short choppy punch to his jaw then I say go Mr. Teacher. Being an American I'm tired of seeing kids walk all over teachers, they are the one main person who kids will relate with in public (after being taught by parents) that you respect the adults around you, once that is gone you just have chaos and juvenile delinquents who know they can get away with anything because mommy/daddy will help them get out of any trouble they make.

Good for the teacher. A similar thing happened in the U.S. where a teacher was being bullied by a student, had enough, and lashed out with punches.

Students and teenagers around the world these days lack respect for authority, and it is time to say enough is enough.

Although the teacher should not have list his temper, I don’t blame him. Humans are human, and can only deal with so much bull.

In the full length video, the persons filming it can be heard saying things like “this is gold!” and “let’s make this go viral.”

They clearly had intent to aggravate the teacher to get a reaction, and were probably pushing his buttons for weeks prior.