Kobe teacher, 28, arrested over groping two women near JR Hyogo Station
In short
Police in Kobe arrested a 28-year-old municipal elementary school teacher on suspicion of non-consensual indecency after two women were groped as they passed him on a street near JR Hyogo Station on the night of August 19. The suspect, Kazuki Atsuta of Hyogo Ward, denies the allegation, saying he does not remember the acts. Police are investigating the circumstances, including the possibility he had been drinking, and whether there are other victims.
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Police in Kobe have arrested a 28-year-old elementary school teacher on suspicion of non-consensual indecency over the alleged groping of two women on a street near JR Hyogo Station, according to the reports. The suspect is Kazuki Atsuta, 28, who lives in Hyogo Ward, Kobe, and works at a Kobe municipal elementary school, the outlets said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Citing police, Livedoor News reported that Atsuta is suspected of touching the chest of a 45-year-old woman as they passed each other on a street around JR Hyogo Station at about 11:17 p.m. on August 19, and of touching the chest of a second woman, 32, about a minute later at around 11:18 p.m. Nippon TV News, without giving times, described the two women as in their 40s and 30s. [ 1 , 3 ]
The case came to light after the 32-year-old woman called police immediately following the alleged act, according to Livedoor News and Nippon TV News. Police analyzed surveillance camera footage from around the scene and identified the suspect's involvement, and then established that the 45-year-old woman had also been targeted, Livedoor News reported. [ 1 , 3 ]
Police quoted Atsuta as denying the allegation: “I do not remember committing indecent acts against the two women,” he told investigators, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nippon TV News reported that police are also examining whether Atsuta had been drinking at the time of the alleged acts. Livedoor News said police are continuing to investigate the detailed circumstances and whether there are other offenses. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case involves a public elementary school teacher in Kobe, so it touches on public trust in local schools as well as street safety around a major station at night. Police have said they are still examining the circumstances and possible additional offenses, meaning the account may develop. The documents give no further basis for wider significance.
Key facts
- Kazuki Atsuta, 28, a Kobe municipal elementary school teacher living in Hyogo Ward, Kobe, was arrested on suspicion of non-consensual indecency. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police allege he touched the chest of a 45-year-old woman as they passed each other on a street around JR Hyogo Station at about 11:17 p.m. on August 19. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police allege he touched the chest of a second woman, 32, at about 11:18 p.m. the same night. [ 1 ]
- The 32-year-old woman called police immediately after the alleged act, according to the reports. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Police identified the suspect after analyzing surveillance camera footage from around the scene, and then found the 45-year-old woman had also been targeted, according to the reports. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Atsuta has denied the allegation, saying he does not remember committing indecent acts against the two women. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police are examining whether he had been drinking at the time, Nippon TV News reported. [ 3 ]
- Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances and whether there are other offenses. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the suspect had been drinking alcohol at the time of the alleged acts. Only Nippon TV News mentions this, and it reports it as a possibility police are looking into, not a confirmed fact.
- Whether there are additional victims or other alleged offenses. Livedoor News says police are investigating this without giving any finding.
- The exact charges and how the suspect responds beyond his denial. The documents report only the suspicion of non-consensual indecency and his statement that he does not remember the acts.
- The case came to light after a woman reported it to police immediately, and police used surveillance camera footage in the investigation. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On August 19, a 45-year-old woman is alleged to have been groped as she passed the suspect on a street near JR Hyogo Station in Kobe. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A second woman, 32, is alleged to have been groped in the same way. [ 1 ]
- The 32-year-old woman calls police immediately after the alleged act, prompting the investigation. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On October 6, Livedoor News publishes its report on the arrest. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes a flash report on the arrest. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News publishes its report, adding that police are examining whether the suspect had been drinking. [ 3 ]