Elite School Teacher Re-Arrested for Indecent Acts on Bus, Targets High School Girl
Suspect Hayata at the time of his arrest last December“I was touched on the bus”
A report from the victim’s family prompted the police to start an investigation, leading to the re-arrest of a teacher at a prestigious girls’ school.
On January 6, the Urayasu Police Station in Chiba Prefecture arrested Yuma Hayata (29), a resident of the city, on suspicion of non-consensual indecent acts. Hayata is a social studies teacher at a prestigious public girls’ high school in Chiba Prefecture. The school has a strong track record in teacher training and has over 125 years of history. The trouble allegedly caused by a teacher who should serve as a role model for female students is as follows:
“On the night of September 22 last year, around 10:30 p.m., on a route bus running through Urayasu City, Hayata allegedly touched the body of a high school girl standing next to him, over her skirt. The girl’s family consulted the police. Based on evidence from the bus’s drive recorder and other sources, Hayata was arrested. He did not know the victim personally and reportedly told police, ‘I don’t remember,’” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs desk.
This was not Hayata’s first arrest. He had also been taken into custody in December last year on a similar charge. FRIDAY Digital conducted detailed reporting on the first incident and highlighted Hayata’s bewildering defense.
“I didn’t do it”
“The incident occurred just after 9 p.m. on December 10. According to the police, Hayata boarded a route bus in Urayasu City while returning home. On the crowded bus, he allegedly touched the body of a high school girl standing next to him over her underwear.
The girl noticed something was wrong and shouted, ‘Molester!’ Passengers who came to her aid called 110. Police reviewed the bus’s drive recorder footage and arrested Hayata. He and the victim were not acquainted,” the same reporter said.
When questioned by police, Hayata denied the crime, saying:
“I stayed still until the bus reached my stop. I did not commit any obscene acts.”
Taihei Ogawa, a former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist, explains:
“Looking at the two arrests, the method is similar—targeting unknown high school girls on buses late at night. He likely repeated the same method after succeeding a few times. It’s a despicable crime targeting relaxed girls returning home after classes or club activities.
Recently, sexual offenses by teachers and cram school instructors have become a problem. Most teachers work sincerely to nurture students into responsible adults. However, it is true that some turn students into objects of desire.”
The police are investigating Hayata for possible additional offenses.
PHOTO： Shinji Hasuo