Elementary School Teacher’s Twisted Obsession: Hidden Camera Crimes Branded Murder of the Soul

A female student changing clothes at the pool—

“To the victims and everyone affected, I have committed a crime that is unforgivable from any legal or ethical standpoint. It is said to be a crime that kills the soul. I am truly, deeply sorry.”

During the trial, the 48-year-old elementary school teacher offered these words of apology and bowed his head deeply.

“On July 2, 2025, the Tokorozawa Police Station of the Saitama Prefectural Police arrested elementary school teacher Masato Saitō (48) on suspicion of unlawful entry. Saitō was suspected of entering a classroom at the school where he worked with the intent to secretly record video. On July 1, before a pool class, a female student was changing clothes in a classroom when Saitō’s smartphone—hidden inside a pencil case—was found on top of a shelf. Video footage believed to have been secretly recorded was discovered on the device. Saitō denied the allegations, claiming he had merely forgotten his phone in the classroom.

The next day, on July 3, police searched both the school and Saitō’s home, seizing two computers. Dozens of videos believed to have been filmed on school grounds and depicting students were found. On July 24, Saitō was rearrested on suspicion of violating the Act on Punishment of Child Pornography and the Recording of Sexual Images. At this point, Saitō reportedly admitted, saying, ‘I wanted to secretly record them.’

Prosecutors decided not to indict him on the unlawful entry charge but proceeded to indict him for the crime of filming sexual images. On September 11, the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education dismissed Saitō from his position as a disciplinary measure.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

The defendant’s distorted passion revealed through his crafty voyeuristic methods

On September 8, the first trial of the defendant, Saitō Masato, was held at the Kawagoe Branch of the Saitama District Court.

What became clear through the indictment and the prosecutor’s opening statement was a despicable crime utterly unworthy of an educator.

“The defendant had been employed as a teacher at an elementary school in Tokorozawa City since April 2021, during which he secretly filmed female students while they were changing clothes.

At first, the defendant used a small hidden camera, but later switched to using his mobile phone. To prevent his voyeurism from being discovered, he concealed the phone inside a pencil case with a hole cut out for the camera lens. He even modified it with Velcro to keep the phone from shifting inside the case.

On July 1, aware that a classroom at his school would be used as a changing area before swimming class, the defendant secretly placed the pencil case containing his phone on top of a shelf and filmed multiple girls as they changed clothes.

After the class, a male colleague checked the room and found the pencil case on the shelf. Upon looking inside, he discovered the mobile phone. When the footage saved on the device was reviewed together with the principal and the defendant, the crime came to light.”

Wearing a black suit with a white shirt and navy tie, Saitō appeared in court and admitted to the charges, saying, “I acknowledge the facts,” before offering his earlier apology.

Statements from the victims’ parents were also read aloud during the proceedings, all expressing a strong desire for severe punishment.

It was revealed that Saitō had begun secretly recording about three years earlier, and that several small cameras and iPads modified for voyeuristic use were seized from his home. Although in his apology he referred to his crime as a murder of the soul, it seems he had spared no effort in refining the tools used for that very murder.

As the trial continues, attention now turns to whether a verdict will be handed down that can bring some measure of justice to the victims and their families.

Further hearings are scheduled to follow.

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