Shizuoka city holds parents' briefing after swim coach arrested over indecent act
In short
A male swimming coach at a swimming school in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, was arrested on September 28 on suspicion of non-consensual indecency involving an elementary school girl. The city, which had outsourced a junior high school's swimming classes to the school, held a parents' briefing on the evening of October 6. The board of education said it cannot continue the arrangement in its current form for fiscal 2027.
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A male swimming coach at a swimming school in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, was arrested on September 28 on suspicion of non-consensual indecency involving an elementary school girl, according to the reports. The man lives in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the documents say. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The city had outsourced swimming classes at Haibara Junior High School to that swimming school. After the arrest, Makinohara City's board of education announced that it would hold a parents' briefing on October 6 at the junior high school, and the briefing was held on the evening of October 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
At the briefing, parents asked whether there had been any sexual harm in the junior high school's classes, and raised a series of opinions and questions about why the board had concluded the outsourcing contract while it had been aware of a sexual harm consultation before the arrest, Nippon TV reported. Yahoo! News Japan likewise reported that the city outsourced the swimming classes despite having been aware of a consultation. [ 3 , 4 ]
According to Nippon TV, the board said it cannot continue outsourcing the work in its current form for fiscal 2027, that ensuring students' safety and peace of mind is its priority, and that it will ask the operator — named by the outlet as Ace One — to provide recurrence prevention measures and thorough safety management. [ 4 ]
The documents do not name the coach or give his age, do not state where the alleged act took place, and give no details of the earlier consultation or of how many complaints or victims may be involved. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The case centres on a school swimming programme that the city entrusted to an outside operator, and on the board of education's decision to sign that contract after it had received a sexual harm consultation, according to the reports. Parents' questions at the briefing concern how the city checks the safety of contractors it uses for school lessons. The board has said it will seek preventive measures from the operator before any further outsourcing.
Key facts
- A male coach at a swimming school in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, was arrested on September 28 on suspicion of non-consensual indecency involving an elementary school girl. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The man lives in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Makinohara City had outsourced swimming classes at Haibara Junior High School to the swimming school. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city's board of education announced the parents' briefing for October 6 at Haibara Junior High School and held it that evening. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- At the briefing, parents asked whether there had been any sexual harm during the junior high school classes, and questioned why the board signed the outsourcing contract while it had been aware of a sexual harm consultation before the arrest, Nippon TV reported. [ 4 ]
- The board said it cannot outsource the work in its current form for fiscal 2027 and will demand recurrence prevention measures and thorough safety management from the operator, which Nippon TV named as Ace One. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A male coach at a swimming school in Makinohara City was arrested on September 28 on suspicion of indecent acts against an elementary school girl. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Makinohara City had entrusted a junior high school's swimming classes to that swimming school. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city's board of education held a parents' briefing on the evening of October 6 following the arrest. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The name and age of the arrested coach. The documents describe him only as a man living in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and give no further identifying details.
- The name of the swimming school. Only Nippon TV names the operator, as Ace One; the other documents do not name the school.
- Whether the alleged act took place in a class that the city had outsourced to the school. The documents say the city outsourced junior high school swimming classes to the school but do not state where the alleged act occurred.
- The content, date and outcome of the sexual harm consultation the board is said to have received before signing the contract. Yahoo! News and Nippon TV say a consultation was known of before the contract, but neither gives its details, and the other documents do not mention it.
- How many other complaints or victims may be involved. Yahoo! News carries a link to a 2023 report about consultations to police, while the current documents state no number of victims or complaints.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A male swimming coach is arrested on suspicion of non-consensual indecency involving an elementary school girl at a swimming school in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Makinohara City's board of education announces that it will hold a parents' briefing on October 6 at Haibara Junior High School over the case. [ 1 ]
- The city, which had outsourced the junior high school's swimming classes to the swimming school, holds the parents' briefing; parents ask about possible harm in school classes and about the contract having been signed after a consultation was known. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Nippon TV reports that the board cannot outsource the work in its current form for fiscal 2027 and will demand recurrence prevention measures and thorough safety management from Ace One. [ 4 ]