national

Teacher’s verbal abuse, threats blamed for 15-year-old girl’s suicide

76 Comments

Verbal abuse and threats by a teacher have been blamed for the suicide last week of a 15-year-old junior high school girl in Takahagi, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The girl killed herself at her home on April 30.

On Monday, it was learned that the teacher in charge of the school’s table tennis club had been verbally abusive and even threatened “to kill” her, Fuji TV reported.

According to Takahagi City’s Board of Education, last September, the girl wrote in a school questionnaire that “school is fun but club activities are boring.”

In a note found at her home after her suicide, the girl wrote that she had become frustrated at being in the table tennis club because the male teacher threatened “to kill” or “punch” her and her teammates. In addition, she said that the man called the girls “idiots,” jabbed them on their shoulders, and threw their equipment on the floor.

The girl stopped attending club practice on March 15. Shortly after, the board of education received an anonymous complaint about the teacher. He admitted to the verbal abuse and acknowledged that he had been too tough on the girls with his coaching methods. The school admonished him and assigned another teacher to supervise his coaching methods.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

76 Comments
Login to comment

The situation is that a girl is dead by her own hand and things DID NOT have to come to this! Some more people should've been using a watchful eye and noticing some things about her, and intervened if they could. This is a sad tragedy that goes on every day somewhere and it doesn't have to be. It can be stopped!

Agree completely.

This was an unnecessary death and nobody should ever treat anyone rotten like this, to threaten someone with words like I will kill you should never come out of anyone's mouth.

 Some may be that way, but there is enormous variation within Japan in this as other areas

Agree to this one, too.

I am against generalizations - having children attending schools in Japan and me myself attending schools both in Japan and abroad while growing up, I do know that not all schools here are bad.

There are schools that are not that great but then you can also find great teacher(s) in those schools.

On the contrary, there are some reputable schools that have terrible teachers that should never be teaching any children.

Above applies to schools in Japan and in abroad.

Not everything about club activities are bad, there are great things, too.

I mentioned in my earlier post, but my kids enjoy playing sports in their clubs and sure it is not all flowers and rainbows, but they have mates who they call life-long friends and they are doing what they love.

The important thing I always want the kids to know is that it is OK to quite when they want to, they have choices and voices.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japanese high schools are more like military prisons with hard labor than a center for education.

Some may be that way, but there is enormous variation within Japan in this as other areas. My older son graduated from a generic Tokyo municipal high school this year. He enjoyed his three years there and had no problems whatsoever because he is haafu.

My younger son just entered a Tokyo municipal high school. He seems very happy.

In contrast, I hated my four years in a high school in a suburb of Chicago. It was very literally run like a prison. If you needed to go to the toilet during a class period, you had to have a signed permit from a teacher. Any infraction of the numerous and picky rules got you "nights" (after school detention in rooms presided over by thugs).

Judging from a single case in Japan has no more validity than judging from a single case in Britain, the US, or any other country.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

fishyToday 09:50 am JST I think that there is a bit more to this than meets the eye

I am a little puzzled because Japanese news said this girl stopped attending the club in mid March and did not go since then (she went to school but not the club).

Since she did not attend the club anymore, she knew that not going was an option (and she chose to not attend).

Agree, there may be some other reasons (combined reasons perhaps).

Granted but the point of it all is that this girl saw her daily life as a total hell with no way out. Somebody should've been asking some questions, and that sorry excuse for a teacher had no right to treat her (or any other student) so rotten like he did. Yes there may be more, much more than meets the eye here.

The situation is that a girl is dead by her own hand and things DID NOT have to come to this! Some more people should've been using a watchful eye and noticing some things about her, and intervened if they could. This is a sad tragedy that goes on every day somewhere and it doesn't have to be. It can be stopped!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

 I think that there is a bit more to this than meets the eye

I am a little puzzled because Japanese news said this girl stopped attending the club in mid March and did not go since then (she went to school but not the club).

Since she did not attend the club anymore, she knew that not going was an option (and she chose to not attend).

Agree, there may be some other reasons (combined reasons perhaps).

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This is one of the many reasons I am not so keen on  Japan's school clubs. They overdo every here, demands too much time and effort from kids, a big chance of being bullied if you don't think and act like the rest of the members, and takes away too much time from family and studies. I think MEXT should review the purpose and guidelines for school clubs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The male teacher threatened “to kill” or “punch” her and her teammates. these statements/threats in the UK would be grounds for dismissing him on the spot. As a director of a company, this sort of attitude does not encourage people to do better its counter productive, people need to be encouraged, educated, guided, and make them feel good about them selfs, even if they have done wrong or made a mess of things, abusing people only makes the matter worse, production goes down "stuff him" attitude creeps in, loyalty drops, pride and sense of well being drops.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@fireryrei, I am inclined to agree with you on this, it seems a bit odd that a teacher does something that is singly and totally responsibly for her death. I think that there is a bit more to this than meets the eye, was she constantly bullied by 1 or more teachers, or school mates? if it was just the 1 teacher and its an after hours club, don't go to the club would be the simple answer, as for "stepping down" from his post, no, no he should be taken in for questioning by the cops, and possibly charged with her manslaughter. and then are an example of him on TV which hopefully will send out a message that teachers that bully will be prosecuted.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RealizationToday 09:42 am JSTOfficials of the Takahagi education board apologize at a press conference.

But we want them (Officials of the Takahagi education board) to take the responsibility and resign to fail to take action on time.

Also that teacher must charge for murder.

That teacher drove that student to suicide with his bullying and threats - to kill her yet.

He has already committed a crime in itself - now he must do the time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Officials of the Takahagi education board apologize at a press conference.

But we want them (Officials of the Takahagi education board) to take the responsibility and resign to fail to take action on time.

Also that teacher must charge for murder.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Shinki Noguchi:

How come the girl committed sueside so easily... Her life is not only hers but her parent’s and friends...there must’ve been other options, just quit the club or refuse to go to school!

Yes you are right, but you know those teacher or coach will made to think those student that if you can't follow my (teacher or coach ) instruction, then you are useless in this world.

We are producing educated servant just to follow orders not to think alternative better options.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Govt. & Education board must stop such activity by teachers and pushing student to death.

By the name of Bukatsu/shiai at school/outside, they are taking all the holidays from student.

Even I know some student spend hole GW 10 days behind those Bukatsu/shiai and those student could not enjoy their holidays with parent & relatives.

Most of the student are afraid to take off due to marks, verbal abuse and bulling by coach/teacher.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

A one-off inappropriate remark is pardonable. Bullying is a repeating psychological threat by toxic people that is sometimes very difficult to frame because always playing on the borderline of the acceptable social communication. These ones are the most dangerous ones.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

twinansToday 04:43 pm JSTThis teacher should get prison time for murder. I sickens me to hear about any teacher who abuses students. Yes! I am a teacher and I never criticize nor raise my voice. I adore my students (all of them) and do my very best to teach them the best things academically.

Absolutely. A teacher's job is to guide and educate. Bullying is nothing but destructive. A healthy child is a happy one, and their childhood years are very crucial in life. Nobody should have to endure a mental hell - especially at such a young innocent developing age. So practically in my book, that teacher is guilty of murder or 'abetting suicide' because he made school and tennis practice HELL for her. Threatening to 'kill' or 'punch' a kid is a serious offense and throwing stuff around in a hissy-fit in front of children only shows his uncouth lack of maturity. Bad example - he's even less mature than the children! Put him in the slammer.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How come the girl committed sueside so easily... Her life is not only hers but her parent’s and friends...there must’ve been other options, just quit the club or refuse to go to school!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

if she had been less sensitive, she would have ignored him or reported him.

Sad to see victim blaming after yet another loss of life.

Akin to the "man up" attitude to those suffering from PTSD etc.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This teacher should get prison time for murder. I sickens me to hear about any teacher who abuses students. Yes! I am a teacher and I never criticize nor raise my voice. I adore my students (all of them) and do my very best to teach them the best things academically.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This is inexcusable, indefensible unjustifiable to the max. That teacher is supposed to be a guide for the young. He should be put to prison and made to reflect on the MURDER that he did, for the rest of his life. No parole, ever!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Never ever put your kids in a sports club or even the band

That's an extreme comment - my kids belong to sports clubs in school and they love the sports, their teammates are important to them and say they will be life-long friends.

They also know they CAN quite any time if they want.

Kids can and should try any club or sports if they want and as long as they are happy, and they should also know it is okay to leave when they no longer want to be there.

Some teachers are terrible, some are actually awesome.

Having said this, this guy should be appropriately punished, nobody should be telling anybody that they'll kill them or to push them to the corner emotionally.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So whole Japanese education system isn't bad just because of some bullies. But it's mostly by classmates and senior students.

The Japanese education system isn't bad if you are looking for people that follow orders and can pass exams. It's complete shite if you want people with critical thinking skills that are capable of working independently.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is manslaughter plain and simple. 

Its not possible to make that determination from the available information.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Never ever put your kids in a sports club or even the band. The sport coaches are bat crap crazy (win at all costs and more misery means more winning!) and both will eat into all of your kids time to study and pass exams. My son was injured on the junior high school volleyball team (which I thought was more lower key and less stressful—wrong), and needed stitches in his head due to another player banging him on the head with the volleyball bag, and the crazy coach wanted him to play the next week when he was supposed to get the stitches out. When I told him NO, he had another teacher call and try to pressure me. When I had a little “chat” with the principal the next day, I was told that I did not understand Japanese culture!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

bowing on the death of children and walking away. This has to stop, there must be a jail sentence.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan has 3/10 problems like these happening, compared to Western countries 5/10.

So whole Japanese education system isn't bad just because of some bullies. But it's mostly by classmates and senior students.

However, in this case, he needs to be jailed for 20 years.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

kohakuebisuMay 7 10:21 pm JST

PS. The words "I'll kill you" alone should be instant dismissal.

Instant dismissal, a visit from the police, and possibly charges filed.

I've never been much of a fan of all the litigation going through the courts (since apparently the entire world is corrupt and will screw you over), but the parents should get a lawyer, and the lawyer should sue this school until it no longer exists.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Talking about similar problems elsewhere does not minimize the importance of addressing the problem here.

If the senpai is always immune to criticism / the law, receives regular positive reinforcement from his peers and firmly believes he is producing results through his culturally accepted methods of bullying his kouhai and instilling fear and pressure; then what makes you think he will change? What would produce this needed perception change in japanese culture? Yes nothing will.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

A teenager commits suicide after suffering abuse & bullying. The higher ups bow and apologise without actually learning and acting on improving the flawed system. So it becomes rinse and repeat.

It won't ever change here in Japan

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Believe or not, this girl will for most Japanese considered as weak who decided her own faith alone.

Even myself who think it is an easy way to leave that some decide where no one can have time to help, I am baffled to see parents wait until it is too late...it is first their fault as individuals (which is so hard to express for Japanese).

If I had heard the teacher of one of my kids had thrown of the floor some of their belongings, he/she would have to explain to me the "good" reasons for such behaviour because my kids would "believe"in me and tell me what happened, at least in their point of view.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No one can decide for Japan outside Japanese. I don't agree with my Japanese often because she does not have any philosophical background and love, altruism, common sense, personal will, empathy or justice (as to the search of equilibrium) and many more ideas are hardly existing.

The picture of having a militaristic system for many activities (professional, sports, education, wedding ! Etc) is true.

If German will never go ever to war again, I am afraid to say it may happen for Japan in the long term.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Sorry but in no way is this the sole reason for her suicide. If that were true, ALL the teacher's students would have committed suicide. She personally had issues beyond this, and this man was the catalyst. It does not excuse bad behaviour, but on the other hand, if she had been less sensitive, she would have ignored him or reported him.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

She should be allowed to change clubs

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There are underlying reasons why such young people kill themselves. Many have been verbally abused but never thought of suicide.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Teachers, schools, and school boards should realize they depend on their students for their own success. If the students (all of them) don't graduate with an excellent education the staff has failed. Bullying by a teacher is a sign of incompetence. The teacher only proves he/she is bigger and more powerful than the students. Producing a new well educated generation is also the parents responsibility. In this case where were the parents? We they aware of what was going on at school? If they were they should have been down at the school confronting the principle and coach.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ Fendy

And how to teach resilience (and independence)? That’s a key issue with the students, I believe.

By instilling trust in oneself and love.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

i teach at several universities and always keep things extremely positive in classes. But its primarily because IMO students now are so sensitive to any kind of criticism that one has to keep comments or feedback super syrupy sweet at all times, in order to not be identified as a bully & be placed on the faculty or admin blacklist. I'm not saying the coach/instructor in this case did things correctly or in any way appropriately, (obviously he went too far), but I also know how difficult it can be to instruct/advise a group of lackadaisical, disinterested (bored) youngsters & feel like there are no.options left but to use a "stick" when a "carrot" no longer provides the results the school administration expects.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Chipstar has something there:

It’s more than just club activities. It's the sempai/kouhai nonsemse coupled with being taught to never question authority.

And how to teach resilience (and independence)? That’s a key issue with the students, I believe.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Gore a pair! Hardly a punishment at all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As Alfie says, the problem is the lack of perspective. These students are children playing a sport, as it happens a not-especially-respected sport in Japan, they are not soldiers in a war, firefighters battling a vast wildfire, or a shipwrecked huddle stuck on a dinghy with two days' of water for two people. Nonstop iron discipline is completely unwarranted.

250 plus days a year of table tennis under a strict disciplinarian may teach children something, but it is a very very high price to pay for whatever it is. Most Japanese are already well-behaved. If anything, I think clubs bias Japanese people toward ostentatious displays of "ganbaru", the ekiden runner being carried off on a stretcher as the ideal, instead of what real-world goal-driven perseverance looks like and achieves. So the guy who hangs around his desk until 10pm doing nothing and the housewife who doesn't actually do much housework but attends the odd 2pm PTA meeting get to say words like "isogashii" or "taihen" and no-one questions it. They are only striving in the selfish goal of looking busy.

PS. The words "I'll kill you" alone should be instant dismissal.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

This story being related in [National] section instead of the [Crime] one speaks by itself.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Yet in America, the first 5 months of 2019. 120 killed by guns, 387 wounded. It is time to change the corrupt, cheating and inhuman culture of the west and the sanctimonious attitude of some JT posters.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Bows can't be above laws. It is time to change the corrupted, cheating and inhuman culture.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just another bow ?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

“Perhaps it works in the army, but is not necessary for children who are growing up...”

Denied the right to have an army, and innoculated against militarism through the horrors of WW2, the nation elected to turn the economy, the workforce, and the entire school system into a surrogate war machine. Tanshin funin, service zangyo, and similar boot camp features in the work world have their analogue in the school system, with its eight days a week yarisugi routine of school, club activities, and after school juku. The collateral damage, the human cost in lives cut short by suicide or bent out of shape, forced to conform to a world that has much in common with Full Metal Jacket’s fictionalised barracks portrayal, is something which increasing numbers of people here and Japan’s major trading partners are no longer prepared to tolerate.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Linked to the death of a child with hard evidence, bow and go home. Accused of miss use of company funds without hard evidence, get locked, loss of communication with the outside world, interrogated daily, ........

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It has to change, this generation deserves better.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Definitely due to the senpai / kouhai concept deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Japan. Not sure if it can ever change.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"Do the hustle" is correct. I saw many acts of violence against students for which teachers were praised by supervisors and parents; acts that would result in immediate dismissal in NYS where I was an elementary school principal. Little has changed in my 50+ years experience in Japan. It is a sad place to be a child.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

That "teacher" ought to be fired. He ought to be named in public. He must never be allowed to teach again.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What a loser. This is manslaughter plain and simple. But no punishment? Hmmm must be in Japan...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So the teacher said "I'll kill you." Now she's dead.

Sounds like murder to me!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Tony.W - Japanese parents really need to be educated to be aware of what's being done to their kids and to understand that it's not acceptable

Mate, I’m sorry, but it is the Japanese parents who expect and demand this kind of physical and abusive discipline of their kids. That is how they were brought up and if their kids are failing they want the teachers to be more strict with them. I’ve spent the better part of the last two decades in public and private Japanese high schools and how the students are treated is atrocious, but it is also commended by parents. You have to remember, Japanese high schools are detention centers and the homeroom teachers are the guards. I remember one case were a 15 year old girl ran away from home. She went to Osaka from Tokyo. It was her homeroom teacher that went to Osaka to bring her back, not one of her parents.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

ヤリスギ / yarisugi (overdoing things, taking things too far, going to extremes, over the top, pushing the envelope etc.) is the bane of life in Japan, but it is the cultural monkey that has been riding on the backs of the Japanese for centuries and they just can't seem to shake the critter off. This Japanese cultural trait persists in their quest for perfection, but also because it is a most useful instrument for bullying and social control albeit at the cost of karoshi (death by overworking), kireru (running amok) and murishinju ( murder-suicides). Societal change is slow and it'll take a youth rebellion like the 1960s in the West to loosen this monkey's stranglehold on the lives of the Japanese people. Ganbatte!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Im sure to get bullied myself here on JT for saying this, but really, she killed herself over this?? She wasnt singled out by the teacher - the rest of the team experienced the same "abuse". In fact the "abuse" was just old school training. She otherwise found school fun. I just dont get it. What kind of precious hothouse flowers are being raised these days?

Are the victims of such tragedies to be reduced to tired and insensitive attacks on their character, these days?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

If this happened in Australia the teacher would not only be dismissed but would likely be up on charges of assault for the physical bullying. Japanese parents really need to be educated to be aware of what's being done to their kids and to understand that it's not acceptable. Surely the UN have some stance on this that can be used to bring pressure on the authorities?

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Im sure to get bullied myself here on JT for saying this, but really, she killed herself over this?? 

You haven't been bullied, and you won't be bullied for your post; you have been and will be corrected and called out for it.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

It's really amazing how they're not even concerned about their reputation. There is no angry backlash, no media condemnation, no nothing. There are a lot of factors playing into this. At the very least, the parents should sue the school into oblivious. That would send a message to others. But then again, even suing might be difficult because of the backward and corrupt legal system.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Japanese club activities culture is over the top. Majority of JHS students belong to sports club practice 6-7 days a week club activities and teachers are often far from expert and cannot coach them correctly

10 ( +10 / -0 )

she had become frustrated at being in the table tennis club because the male teacher threatened “to kill” or “punch” her and her teammates. In addition, she said that the man called the girls “idiots,” jabbed them on their shoulders, and threw their equipment on the floor.

It's the table tennis club and she was a 15 year old girl. Why was the teacher behaving as if they were unruly recruits during wartime?

On what planet is this acceptable? Seriously? This poor child lost her life and her family are bereft because of bullying by the frigging table tennis coach? It's almost beyond words really.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Johnny Park: What's the point of these questionnaires they give the students when nothing comes out of it?

What are you talking about? In the questionnaire, she wrote “school is fun but club activities are boring.” What sort of action would you like to be taken over this information?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Im sure to get bullied myself here on JT for saying this, but really, she killed herself over this?? She wasnt singled out by the teacher - the rest of the team experienced the same "abuse". In fact the "abuse" was just old school training. She otherwise found school fun. I just dont get it. What kind of precious hothouse flowers are being raised these days?

That is a highly insensitive thing to say. Some children will be affected in different ways and she may have been under all kinds of pressure elsewhere - it may have been a contributory factor - the straw that broke the camel's back.

There is no need for this "old school training" - it is abuse. Perhaps it works in the army, but is not necessary for children who are growing up, having possibly all kinds of problems and are a mess of hormones throwing logic and reason out of the window.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

In any civilised country the teacher would be dismissed and under investigation by the police, and the headmasters position would be in jeopardy. But apparently not in Japan, and they wonder about the suicide rate?

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Another bald/grey head inspection photo.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

When is this military style of culture going to change. Too much power in the hands of people like Company Bosses and teachers etc etc. Its disgusting to have to hear about a 15 year old take her life just because of this stupidity. Even the old school laws need to be changed!!!!!!!!

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Luckily she wrote a note. Otherwise nothing would happen.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Im sure to get bullied myself here on JT for saying this, but really, she killed herself over this?? She wasnt singled out by the teacher - the rest of the team experienced the same "abuse". In fact the "abuse" was just old school training. She otherwise found school fun. I just dont get it. What kind of precious hothouse flowers are being raised these days?

-9 ( +10 / -19 )

What's the point of these questionnaires they give the students when nothing comes out of it? I remember reading another article where the father was being abusive to his daughter and she was basically crying for help in one of these questionnaires and what happens? The school tells her dad about it because they were intimidated by him. She ended up dying too.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Now's the chance for the Abe government to prove they are serious in what they said about zero-tolerance earlier. Lock the up the teacher, and fire others at the school. NOW.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Its pretty sick that it comes to this though, the culture of taking club activities WAY too seriously in this country just feeds this kind of bullying by educators.

It's more than just club activities. It's the sempai/kouhai nonsemse coupled with being taught to never question authority.

23 ( +23 / -0 )

Is "Admonish" somehow now a synonym for "fired and reported to police" or does this school board really not give a flying F about the well-being of their students?

Its worth noting that not only was he not fired, he wasn't even removed from the position as coach of the table tennis team, he just had an assistant appointed to observe! This was before the girl's suicide, they'll probably have to take some actual action against him now that it is all over the news.

Its pretty sick that it comes to this though, the culture of taking club activities WAY too seriously in this country just feeds this kind of bullying by educators.

31 ( +31 / -0 )

Tragic and repugnant.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

In a note found at her home after her suicide, the girl wrote that she had become frustrated at being in the table tennis club because the male teacher threatened “to kill” or “punch” her and her teammates. In addition, she said that the man called the girls “idiots,” jabbed them on their shoulders, and threw their equipment on the floor.

The school admonished him and assigned another teacher to supervise his coaching methods.

And ? A girl is dead due to his actions and he gets a tap on the wrist ?

The parents should sue, and sue hard. Both the teacher and the school.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

 The school admonished him

Is "Admonish" somehow now a synonym for "fired and reported to police" or does this school board really not give a flying F about the well-being of their students?

26 ( +29 / -3 )

It’s difficult to wipe out bullying in Japanese schools when the biggest bullies are the teachers. Japanese high schools are more like military prisons with hard labor than a center for education.

34 ( +36 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites