“Every Moment Was Painful” — A Mother Speaks in Court About Her Daughter’s Current Condition, Expressing Her Anger

Using the classroom blind spots during instruction

“(My daughter) was completely taken advantage of by an adult she trusted, someone she should have been able to rely on. Her kindness, innocence, and diligence were used against her. He exploited the teacher-student relationship and subjected her to sexual harassment in an almost closed-off environment over a long period, which she endured to her limits.”

On December 23, at the Tokyo District Court, the second hearing of Shinichi Ishida (45) was held. The mother of junior high school student A (then 15), who was sexually victimized by a tutor she had trusted, sat at the witness stand, tearfully expressing her anger.

The individual tutoring school School IE, operated by Yaruki Switch Group Co., Ltd., had instructors sit beside students for guidance. Because there were partitions between desks, the environment was difficult for others to see.

Ishida Shinichi took advantage of this closed-off space. Around February of this year, he began touching A’s thighs during lessons, and by March, he put his hand inside her clothes and touched her chest over her underwear. He was indicted for non-consensual indecent acts related to touching A’s chest over her underwear, but the thigh-touching incidents were not part of the charges.

During the trial, Ishida Shinichi stated his motive: “While teaching, my arm accidentally touched A’s chest. She did not react at all, which made me want to touch her with my palm next.”

Furthermore, in January of this year, Ishida Shinichi called B, a junior high school student (then 13), under the pretense of giving a birthday present and hugged her from the front inside the tutoring school building. He was re-arrested on October 2 on suspicion of non-consensual indecent acts.

It is said that Ishida Shinichi began touching B’s thighs once she became a junior high school student during lessons. However, during interrogation, he claimed: “(Hugging B) was not for sexual purposes, but because my emotions were heightened, and I wanted to hug her out of affection.” Therefore, he was indicted not for non-consensual indecent acts, but for assault.

The victimized girls couldn’t consult anyone and struggled

Because Ishida had been instructing both A-san and B-san since they were in elementary school, he had earned the trust not only of the girls themselves but also of their families. Exploiting that trust, his crimes left the two victims unable to confide in anyone and struggling, as detailed in their statements.

〈“I could casually consult him as an adult, and I trusted him as a kind teacher. Therefore, I didn’t want to accept the fact that he was touching my thighs and chest. In my mind, I was thinking about so many things that I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone.”〉 (Statement of A-san)

〈“I thought that if I told my parents, it would make them sad, and also I personally found it difficult to talk to them, so I didn’t.”〉 (Statement of B-san)

A-san consulted a counseling teacher and was able to share worries she couldn’t tell her family—but it took a long time before she could reveal the sexual abuse by Ishida.

At the second trial, before the closing arguments, A-san’s mother gave a statement.

When she briefly glared at Ishida, who was seated at the defendant’s table, A-san’s mother expressed her anger toward him just as described above.

Always speaking words that belittle herself

According to A-san’s mother, after Ishida was arrested, it seemed that the tension she had been holding together finally snapped. A-san’s physical and mental health worsened, and she began relying on medical support. Tearfully, her mother described A-san’s current condition:

“Much of her daily life—time at school and with family, her beloved lessons, fun times with friends—was taken away. Everything became either painful time or difficult time she had to endure to overcome it.”

She then blamed herself for trusting Ishida and failing to notice A-san’s suffering, crying as she said:

“I am tormented by guilt for choosing and recommending the place that caused my daughter long-term suffering. Why did I believe what the defendant said? Why couldn’t I notice my daughter’s hidden feelings?”

Overwhelmed by the anger of A-san’s mother, someone who had once trusted him, Ishida kept his head down and did not look at the witness stand.

Later, closing arguments were made.

The prosecutor stated:

“Despite being the head of a private tutoring classroom, the defendant exploited the fact that the victims did not show resistance and continued to touch their bodies—an outrageous act. He claims that hugging B-san was an act of affection, but the sexual intent is clear, and his attempt to minimize his sexual proclivities shows no sign of remorse. The defendant lacks a sense of moral responsibility, and there is a high possibility of reoffending,” seeking a sentence of 2 years and 6 months.

On the other hand, the defense argued:

“The obscene act toward A-san was over clothing, not directly on bare skin. The act toward B-san was hugging without consent, and when the victim resisted, he stopped, so compared to similar crimes, it should be considered minor. He has reflected deeply on his foolish actions and the widespread trouble he caused, and has pledged never to work with children again,” seeking a suspended sentence.

A-san’s mother reported that recently, A-san has been saying things that belittle herself, like:

“I’m tired. I can’t do anything. I’m only a burden to everyone, so I want to disappear.”

Being repeatedly sexually abused by someone she trusted as a teacher severely damaged A-san’s self-esteem.

During her statement, A-san’s mother emphasized that A-san’s coming forward to report Ishida’s sexual abuse was a fight to reclaim her own life. At times sobbing, at times struggling for words, she pleaded to the judge:

“For my daughter to feel that she ‘has value to live,’ it is necessary to deliver a firm judgment that allows her to feel that her actions mattered.”

How much of this painful cry will reach the judge’s ears?

The verdict is scheduled to be announced on January 8.