HYOGO (TR) – The Kobe City Board of Education on Monday announced six-month disciplinary suspensions for two elementary school teachers who repeatedly engaged in sexual acts on school grounds, reports the Kobe Shimbun (Mar. 30).
According to the board, a 34-year-old male teacher and a 24-year-old female teacher assigned to a municipal elementary school in Kobe City’s Suma Ward engaged in sexual intercourse more than 10 times within the school building between August of last year and early March.
The pair reportedly utilized various locations across the campus for their encounters, including classrooms, hallways, a teaching materials room and a boys’ locker room.
The matter emerged in March. Shortly after 5 p.m. one day, the vice-principal of the school was patrolling the school grounds when he heard a noise coming from the teaching materials room.
Upon investigation, the male teacher rushed out of the room. The female teacher was then found inside, her clothes disheveled.
Upon being questioned by the board, both teachers admitted to the inappropriate conduct.
“A kind of atmosphere developed in which we couldn’t exercise self-control,” both of the teachers was quoted as saying.
The male teacher expressed remorse, saying that “although I am in a position where I should be acting with high ethical standards, my awareness was insufficient.”
“I didn’t do it”
In a separate disciplinary action announced the same day, Kobe City officials dismissed a male employee in his 40s from the Children and Family Bureau.
The official was accused of touching the lower body of a young boy at a facility under his jurisdiction in February 2024. The incident came to light following an anonymous tip to a whistleblower hotline.
During questioning, the man denied the allegations. He firmly stated, “I didn’t do it.”
