Teacher arrested in child rape

The Asahi Shimbun
June 25, 2008
Source: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200806250064.html

NAMEGATA, Ibaraki Prefecture--Police, tipped off about the alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl, arrested a teacher of a junior high school here Monday.

Hidekazu Kojima, 38, an industrial crafts teacher at the municipal Kitaura Junior High School, admitted to raping the girl, police said.

In February 2007, Kojima took the then fifth-grade elementary school pupil for a drive and raped her at a hotel in Kamisu, Ibaraki Prefecture, police said.

Kojima became a teacher in 1996 and has taught at the junior high school since April 2003. A person consulted by the girl alerted police to the alleged crime. (IHT/Asahi: June 25,2008)

Teacher, 38, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting 11-year-old girl in Ibaraki

Japan Today
Tuesday 24th June, 09:56 AM JST
Source: http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/teacher-arrested-for-allegedly-sexually-assaulting-11-year-old-girl-in-ibaraki

IBARAKI — A 38-year-old school teacher was arrested on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 11-year-old schoolgirl in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Hidekazu Kojima, 38, was arrested for allegedly assaulting the girl at a hotel in February, 2007, after taking her out for a drive. In May, the girl told a friend who reported the case to police. According to police, Kojima and the girl became acquainted with each other through a mutual friend.

The local education board held a press conference Monday to apologize for Kojima’s behavior. They said that the school principal had heard rumors about the incident at the time and had asked the teacher about it. But Kojima denied the allegations.

After police raided the school on Monday, Kojima and his father called the school admitting the allegation and apologized to the girl.