Fukuoka childcare center boss arrested for molesting girl, 12

The Mainichi Shimbun
May 3, 2008
Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080503p2a00m0na003000c.html

FUKUCHI, Fukuoka -- A childcare center head here has been arrested for molesting a 12-year-old girl he was supposed to be caring for, police said.

Takashi Nakamura, 62, head of the Hojo Children's Center, was arrested for indecent assault. He denies the allegations.

"I touched her as a form of affection, but I didn't play around with her," he said.

Police said that Nakamura twice indecently assaulted the girl on two occasions on March 28 and April 6, when he lured her to a public building in Tagawa with the promise of giving her photographs he had taken in the past.

Nakamura had previously taken an inordinate interest in the girl, helping her with her studies and sending her notes telling her that he thought she was cute and asking her to stay by his side forever. The girl's mother contacted the police on April 14 and his behavior came to light.

Officials in Fukuchi, Fukuoka Prefecture, said Nakamura had been an elementary school vice principal in Tagawa before he retired. He worked as a part-time employee for three years at the Hojo center until the town merged into Fukuchi and on April 1 this year was given a contract to become the head of the center.

Hiroshi Hasegawa, a spokesman for the Fukuchi Municipal Government, apologized over Nakamura's arrest.

"In one word, it's a shame," Hasegawa said. "He is an experienced teacher and we believed in him. I'd heard he was serious and hard-working, so I can't believe what has happened. I deeply apologize to all residents."

(Mainichi Japan) May 3, 2008