Family of schoolboy who killed himself over bullying to receive gov't compensation

The Mainichi Shimbun
September 13, 2007
Source: http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070913p2a00m0na006000c.html

IMABARI, Ehime -- A government agency has decided to pay 28 million yen in condolence money to the bereaved family of a junior high school boy who committed suicide after being subjected to schoolyard bullying, education officials said.

The National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health has already sent the money to the Imabari Municipal Board of Education. The board will shortly transfer the money to the bereaved family of Hiroshi Horimoto, who took his own life in August last year at the age of 12.

In December last year, Horimoto's family filed an application with the agency for condolence money for his death. The agency initially dismissed their application on the grounds that the boy committed suicide outside the premises of his school.

In response to an appeal by the family, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry revised relevant regulations to allow the agency to provide condolence money to the bereaved families of schoolchildren under their supervision even if they die outside their schools.

The agency covers the medical expenses of schoolchildren who are injured in accidents that occur while the victims are under their schools' supervision. It also provides condolence money to the bereaved families of students in fatal accidents. (Mainichi)

September 13, 2007