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Yokohama after-school club ex-staff held images of 40-50 boys, city says
Коротко
Yokohama city said a male employee at one of its after-school kids clubs possessed images and videos of 40 to 50 boys taken inside a boys' toilet, and the city apologised at a press conference on 6 October. A child's parent had consulted the club and Kanagawa prefectural police in May 2026, and the man had already left the job; the club's operating corporation confirmed in September that he held the data. The city said it will bar private devices from all city clubs and that no leak of the images has been confirmed.
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Yokohama city announced on 6 October 2026 that a male employee at one of its after-school kids clubs had possessed images and videos of 40 to 50 boys taken inside a boys' toilet. The city apologised at a press conference that began shortly after 2 p.m. Kawahara, head of the city's after-school child development division, said: “I am very sorry for causing anxiety for users of the After-School Kids Club, which must be a place children can use with peace of mind. I am very sorry.” Asahi Shimbun reported that the city withheld the employee's details and the club's location to protect the privacy of those affected, and Nippon TV News said the specific club was not disclosed. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
According to the city's child and youth bureau, a parent consulted the club and Kanagawa prefectural police in May 2026, and the prefectural police investigated. The man had already left the club by then, citing a change of employer, and the club's operating corporation confirmed in September that he held image and video data taken in the boys' toilet, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon TV News reported. Nippon TV News said Kawahara told it all of the children affected were boys and the employee was male, and that a person familiar with the matter said many of the stored images and videos appeared to be framed from the side of boys using the toilet. Kawahara said police had told the city that no distribution of the material has been confirmed and that, while specifics are not known, it does not appear to have been a fixed camera. Yomiuri Shimbun likewise reported that no leak of the images has been confirmed. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Yomiuri Shimbun reported the clubs are attached to all municipal elementary schools and are run by private operators with city subsidies. Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun reported the city had already prohibited staff from using private smartphones and other devices in areas where children are active, and that after this case it will notify all city clubs to ban private devices from being brought onto the premises. Yomiuri Shimbun quoted the city's after-school child development division as saying it takes the matter very seriously and will proceed with work on recurrence prevention measures. [ 2 , 4 ]
The outlets differ only slightly on scale: the city cited 40 to 50 boys, while Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan reported about 50 children were filmed. The documents do not say whether the former employee has been arrested or charged, whether the images were shared with anyone, or whether he has admitted taking them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Почему это важно
The case concerns after-school care attached to municipal elementary schools and run by private operators with city subsidies, where parents leave children in the city's charge. The city has acknowledged the failure by apologising and moving to bar staff from bringing private devices onto the premises. The documents give no information on arrests, charges or whether the material spread, so the consequences beyond the announced preventive steps are not yet known.
Ключевые факты
- Yokohama city announced on 6 October 2026 that a male employee at one of its after-school kids clubs possessed images and videos of children filmed in a boys' toilet. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The city put the number of boys affected at 40 to 50; Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan reported about 50. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- A child's parent consulted the club and Kanagawa prefectural police in May 2026, and police investigated. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The employee had already left the club at the time of the consultation, citing a change of employer. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The club's operating corporation confirmed in September that he held image and video data taken in the boys' toilet, according to Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon TV News. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The city said it previously barred staff from using private smartphones and other devices in front of children and will now tell all city clubs to ban bringing private devices onto the premises. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon TV News reported that no leak of the images has been confirmed at this point. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported the city withheld the employee's details and the club's location to protect the privacy of those affected. [ 2 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Yokohama city announced on 6 October 2026 that a male employee at one of its after-school kids clubs possessed images and videos of children filmed in a boys' toilet, and the city apologised. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The images and videos were taken inside a boys' toilet at the club. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The number of boys affected was given as 40 to 50 by the city; Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan reported about 50. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- A parent consulted the club and Kanagawa prefectural police in May 2026, and the employee had already left the club by then. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The city said it will instruct all city clubs to ban staff from bringing private devices onto the premises, after previously prohibiting only private use in children's presence. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The city said no leak of the images has been confirmed at this point. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The clubs are attached to all municipal elementary schools and are run by private operators with city subsidies, according to Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon TV News. [ 4 , 5 ]
Пока неясно
- Whether the former employee has been arrested or charged. The documents describe a police investigation but give no information on arrest or prosecution.
- The exact number of children affected. The city gives a range of 40 to 50, while Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan report about 50.
- Whether the images or videos were shared with anyone else. The city says no distribution has been confirmed; the documents do not go further.
- The identity of the former employee, the club's location and which club was involved. Asahi Shimbun and Nippon TV News report the city withheld these details to protect the victims' privacy.
- Whether the former employee has admitted taking the images himself. The documents say the material is believed to have been filmed by the employee and do not describe an admission.
- How the filming was carried out. A city official told Nippon TV News that specifics are not known but it does not appear to have been a fixed camera, while a person familiar with the matter said many images were framed from the side of boys using the toilet.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- Yokohama city begins a press conference on the filming at the after-school kids club. [ 1 ]
- Livedoor News reports the city's announcement that about 50 children were filmed. [ 1 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the city's account in detail, including the 40-50 figure and the planned device ban. [ 2 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan carries the report that about 50 children were affected. [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports the city's announcement and that no leak of the images has been confirmed. [ 4 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the city's account, including that all those affected were boys and that no fixed camera appears to have been used. [ 5 ]
- Nippon TV News publishes a further report titled around the filming of more than 40 boys. [ 6 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that the employee held images and videos of roughly 40 to 50 boys. [ 7 ]