Former Junior High School Principal Who Sexually Assaulted a Female Student

“The defendant touched the female student under the guise of massaging her. He continued to do so even after the female student began to cry.”

In his opening statement, the prosecutor criticized the defendant’s actions.

 

On November 20, the Tokyo District Court held the first trial of the former principal, 57-year-old Hizaka Kitamura, who is charged with attempted rape and injury for sexually assaulting and injuring a female student, A, at the public junior high school where he worked. He is accused of committing indecent acts on A under the pretext of a massage.

“The prosecution argued, ‘He put the victim in a psychological state where she could not resist, making her feel that she might suffer disadvantages if she did not comply, and made her do as he wished.’ On the other hand, the defense claimed, ‘There were no words or actions from the victim that indicated rejection,’ and denied part of the charges. Immediately after his arrest, Kitamura told the police, ‘I did not have the intention of committing sexual intercourse. I couldn’t suppress my desire for the victim.’

Kitamura is also accused of another incident at a different school where he worked. He allegedly filmed indecent acts with two female students and stored the footage in a locked drawer in the principal’s office. According to the prosecution, Kitamura later confessed to the police, saying, ‘I thought it would be a waste to delete the data, so I kept it to watch later.’ He brought it to the principal’s office because he feared his new wife would find it if it were kept at home.” (Reporter covering the judiciary for a national newspaper)

“FRIDAY Digital” reported in an article on September 14, 2023, in detail about the indecent video incident filmed by defendant Kitamura. We want to reprint it and reflect on the unforgivable crime committed by the former principal against his students, as well as his astonishing justification (the content has been partially revised).

 

“I had feelings for her.”

“I had been subjected to indecent acts by a teacher in the past.”

The incident came to light following a phone call to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education’s “Third-Party Consultation Desk.” The caller was the woman who had been victimized. After several exchanges with the officer in charge, the woman consulted the police. Upon investigating the middle school principal’s workplace and home, the police discovered a video camera in the principal’s desk containing nude images of the woman, a former student.

On September 10, 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s First Investigation Division arrested Kitamura on suspicion of violating the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Law (possession).

 

“The defendant admitted to the police that he was in possession of a camera that contained images of a female student being touched and naked. He said the following about his motive and the situation. ‘I saved (the images) thinking I might see them again,’ and ‘I was taking images of the female student’s lower body being touched.’

The female victim was a student at a junior high school in Tokyo where Kitamura used to work. Kitamura says, ‘I had a liking for her. Her image was not the only one stored on the video. A video of another girl was also found, and the police are investigating for additional crimes.”

Kitamura went to a prestigious public high school in Tokyo and then to a national university. At the university, he studied in the education department and focused mainly on science research. His reputation among parents and students was not bad.

 

“He was always smiling.”

In interviews with various media outlets, graduates from Kitamura’s workplace described him as bright and kind and always smiling, providing positive responses. After graduating from a national university, Kitamura worked at a middle school in Bunkyo Ward. In April 2019, he became the principal of a middle school in Nerima Ward. He was an enthusiastic teacher, even serving as the advisor for the kendo club. (Same source)

In November, Kitamura was dismissed from his position. After the incident came to light, the Nerima Ward Board of Education held a press conference and issued the following apology:

“We deeply apologize that the principal, who is in a position to teach and guide children and is the highest authority at the school, was arrested. We sincerely apologize to the victims, the students, the parents, and the residents of the district.”

In recent years, incidents of sexual offenses by teachers in schools and cram schools have become more frequent. In September 2023, a former instructor at a major middle school entrance exam cram school, “Yotsuya Otsuka,” was re-arrested on charges of forcible indecency, among others.

The Children’s and Family Agency is introducing a “Japanese version of DBS” (Disclosure and Barring Service), modeled after the UK’s system, to verify criminal histories and prevent crimes in advance. This system allows schools and cram schools to check criminal records when hiring teachers and instructors. It is hoped that this will serve as a deterrent against sexual offenses committed by teachers. (Another reporter from the social affairs department)

“Having feelings for [someone]” is not an excuse. The former principal, unable to control his own desires, has inflicted a wound on the children and parents that will never be forgotten.