静岡しずおか焼津やいづ虐いじめを受うけ女子じょし生徒せいとが自殺じさつ両親りょうしんが市しを提訴ていそへ

Three years ago, a 14-year-old female student who attended a public junior high school in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, committed suicide. An investigation by experts determined that she had been bullied by other students through insults and gossip.

The parents have decided to file a lawsuit against the city seeking damages, claiming that the teacher was aware of the bullying but failed to take any action.

According to the bereaved family and their lawyer, in September 2022, a 14-year-old third-year female student attending a public junior high school in Yaizu City took her own life after returning home from school.

The female student had just transferred to the school in April of that year.

According to investigation reports and other sources, in a moral education class held two months before her death, the female student wrote on a handout, I dont show my true self.

He wrote things like, Because I might get bullied again, and submitted it, but the teacher did not speak to him or check on him.

The parents claim that the teacher was aware of the bullying but did not take any action, and they are planning to file a lawsuit with the Shizuoka District Court seeking over 70 million yen in damages from the city.

The Yaizu City Board of Education stated, We express our condolences for the loss of a precious life and offer our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family. Regarding the lawsuit, they said, We cannot respond as we do not know the details.

According to investigation reports and other sources, in a moral education class held two months before her death, the female student wrote on a handout, I dont show my true self.

I might get bullied again, When Im alone, I really feel down, My feelings are always a mess, and other such things were written and submitted, but the teacher reportedly did not reach out or check in with the student.

In the report, it was stated, Although the teacher was concerned about the content, they judged it to be feelings that any junior high school student might have and considered the issue already resolved, and furthermore, it should have been treated as important information regarding bullying.

The statement points out that the failure to recognize the signs expressed by the female student was due to the lack of an organized system within the school, as they had not conducted training in a planned manner.

On top of that, regarding the female students suicide, it states, Although it is difficult to identify a single cause, it cannot be denied that the acts recognized as bullying and the schools response had an impact.

This report has not been made public until now, and the Yaizu City Board of Education stated, We decided not to disclose it considering the impact on the students.

We cannot answer questions regarding matters related to the report.

According to her father, the girl was kind-hearted and was like a mood maker at home.

I like cats and drawing pictures, and after entering junior high school, I joined the art club.

Due to her familys move, the female student transferred schools in April 2022, when she advanced to the third year of junior high school, and at first, she said, I cant quite get used to the atmosphere at the new school.

However, it is said that he never explained in detail to his family what had happened.

And then, about six months after transferring schools, in September 2022, the female student took her own life after returning home from school.

Since the father was at work, he rushed to the hospital after being contacted by his wife, but the person had already passed away.

Regarding my feelings at the time, I couldnt believe it even when I was contacted, and my mind went completely blank while I was on my way—I just wanted to see them as soon as possible.

Anyway, it was really tough.

I wanted you to open your eyes, he said, his voice choking with emotion.

What kind of feelings did my daughter have while spending her school life?

The father requested a detailed investigation from the school and received an investigation report from an expert.

What shocked me among these was the fact that a female student had sent an SOS to her teacher on a handout in a moral education class, but it had been overlooked.

The father said, The bullying was worse than I imagined; everything about it was painful.

Why did I have to be subjected to such filthy words that I wanted to shut my ears to?

I couldnt believe that the teacher looked at the handout and didnt think anything of it.

I wanted people to realize more that for quiet children, just writing something down in words is already an SOS, she said.

The father explained the reason for filing the lawsuit: “I wanted the school, the board of education, and the students who were involved in the bullying to feel the pain of why my daughter had to end her short life, the suffering, and the grief of losing a precious family member.”

I wanted the school to pay more attention to each individual student, he said.

On top of that, I want to apologize to the female student by saying, Im sorry I couldnt say various things to you while you were alive.

I want to tell you that I wanted to be with you more.

I feel lonely, she said.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has set up a 24-Hour Child SOS Hotline that provides free consultation for children and guardians struggling with issues such as bullying.

The phone number is 0120-0-78310, and consultations are available at any time, including nights and holidays.

It also introduces how to consult via SNS on the website called Kodomo no SOS no Sodan Madoguchi Childrens SOS Consultation Desk.