Yokohama City Board of Education officials apologizing in response to teacher misconduct, at the city council

In response to a series of sexual crime cases involving staff at Yokohama municipal schools, the City Board of Education announced 13 recurrence prevention measures on the 26th, including a ban on using personal smartphones for work purposes. The announcement was made during a specially convened standing committee meeting of the city council, where multiple city council members expressed strong criticism of the board officials’ explanations. Many pointed out a lack of awareness regarding the severity of the situation.

The prevention measures are part of a “comprehensive package to make schools a safe and secure environment.” They were developed in light of incidents such as an elementary school teacher being arrested and charged for secretly filming girls’ underwear and sharing the images on social media, and a middle school principal being referred to prosecutors for secretly filming women’s underwear on a train.

During the standing committee meeting, when asked by a Liberal Democratic Party council member about “initiatives that could serve as a reference for other municipalities,” Education Administrative Supervisor Keisuke Mishima referred to an awareness-raising method modeled after an example from Tokyo. It involves school staff making declarations to students, such as “not being alone in secret,” to deter inappropriate behavior. He explained, “A university professor said, ‘There is no example like this in other cities,'” and “Since it’s attracting attention, we want to work hard on it.” He also stated, “Unfortunately, obscene incidents by school staff occur in other cities as well.”

Yokohama City Council Standing Committee discussing recurrence prevention measures in response to teacher misconduct, at the city hall

In response, council members from Komeito, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and independents expressed criticism, such as “It’s not something to say at a stage when effectiveness hasn’t been proven,” “Disappointing,” and “It feels uncomfortable.” After the committee meeting, Mr. Mishima explained to the press, “My intention was to restore the trust that has been lost, but my way of speaking was careless.”

The Education Administrative Supervisor is a bureau chief-level position that supports the Superintendent of Education. The position was newly established this spring as part of organizational reforms following inappropriate responses to a bullying-related suicide case involving a second-year middle school student and issues related to obstructing court observations of sexual crime cases involving school staff.

Yokohama City Board of Education

The Yokohama City Board of Education is the administrative body responsible for managing public schools and promoting lifelong learning within Yokohama, Japan. It was established as part of the post-World War II educational reforms, which decentralized control and created local boards of education to oversee community schooling under the direction of the municipal government.

Yokohama municipal schools

Yokohama Municipal Schools refer to the public school system operated by the City of Yokohama. The system has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the early Meiji period following the opening of the port city to foreign trade, which spurred the development of modern public education. Today, it is one of Japan’s largest municipal school boards, overseeing hundreds of elementary and junior high schools.

Yokohama City Council Standing Committee

The Yokohama City Council Standing Committee is a key part of the legislative process for Japan’s largest city by population. These committees are where elected councilors conduct detailed examinations of proposed ordinances, the city’s budget, and other administrative matters before they are presented to the full council for a final vote. This system of specialized committees is a standard feature of local government in Japan, designed to ensure thorough scrutiny of municipal policies.

Yokohama city council

The Yokohama City Council is the legislative body for the city of Yokohama, Japan. It was established in 1889 as part of the modern municipal system introduced during the Meiji Restoration, making it one of the oldest city councils in the country. The council is responsible for creating local ordinances, approving the budget, and overseeing the city’s administration.

Tokyo

Tokyo is the modern capital of Japan, originally established as the small fishing village of Edo. It became the nation’s political center in 1603 when it served as the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate and was officially renamed Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Today, it is a vast, bustling metropolis known for its cutting-edge technology, historic temples, and vibrant pop culture.

Liberal Democratic Party

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is a major conservative political party in Japan, founded in 1955 through the merger of several smaller parties. It has been the dominant ruling party for most of Japan’s post-war history, holding power almost continuously and shaping the country’s modern economic and foreign policy.

Komeito

Komeito is a Japanese political party, not a place or cultural site. It was originally established in 1964 as the political wing of the Buddhist lay organization Soka Gakkai and has been a significant coalition partner in Japanese governments for decades.

Constitutional Democratic Party

The Constitutional Democratic Party, also known as the Kadets, was a liberal political party in the Russian Empire. It was founded in 1905 during the revolutionary period and advocated for a constitutional monarchy and democratic reforms. The party was a major force in the short-lived State Duma before being banned by the Bolsheviks following the 1917 October Revolution.