Photo/Illutration Police patrol outside a Japanese school in Shenzhen, southern China, on Oct. 15 after the school reopened following the fatal stabbing of one of its students a month earlier. (Yohei Kobayakawa)

SHENZHEN, China--The father of a student attending a Japanese school here expressed concern as students returned to classes this week one month after a schoolboy was stabbed to death on the street here. 

On the morning of the reopening day, police lined the commuting route to the school to ensure the children’s safety.

“I think they have come up with quick solutions, but seeing this makes me worry that children will think China is a scary place," the Japanese parent said. "The sense of insecurity has not been dispelled.”

The 10-year-old boy was fatally stabbed while walking to the school with a parent on Sept. 18.

Despite the ongoing concerns, Chinese authorities have yet to provide a clear motive for the attack, leaving parents and educators grappling with safety measures.

The incident is part of a troubling trend of random acts of violence in China, amplifying feelings of insecurity among families.

The school resumed in-person classes on Oct. 14, but under heightened security.

Police officers and security guards armed with dogs, shields and catchpoles were stationed around the school to ensure student safety.

The school, with an enrollment of about 260 students, waited a month before reopening to focus on emotional care and psychological support for students, many of whom knew the victim or shared the same commute.

For the next month, students will commute by car or bus, with the school increasing bus services and utilizing ride-sharing apps. An online learning option will remain available.

However, long-term safety remains a challenge. Many parents have walked their children to school due to its proximity to their homes.

The new bus service, which costs more than 20,000 yen ($133) per child per month, is a significant financial burden for many families.

LACK OF INFORMATION

It is believed that anti-Japanese sentiment in China played a role in the stabbing, as the attack on Sept. 18 coincided with the anniversary of the 1931 Liutiaohu Incident, which led to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in northeastern China.

However, the Chinese government has maintained that the stabbing was an isolated incident, providing no further context regarding the attack.

A local Japanese diplomatic source expressed frustration with the lack of information from Chinese authorities.

"We need information to ensure safety," the source said. "That's why we've repeatedly asked for a thorough investigation. We're trying to find solutions while buying time (with temporary safety measures)."

Some parents are calling for school closures on historically significant dates, including the upcoming commemoration of the 1937 Nanking Massacre on Dec. 13. However, the school has not yet made a decision.

Meanwhile, safety concerns were heightened following a separate stabbing incident on Oct. 8 outside an elementary school in the neighboring city of Guangzhou, which injured three local residents, including two students from the school.

EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN

The Japanese father, who previously allowed his child to walk to the Shenzhen school, voiced concerns about the emotional impact on students returning to the classroom.

While his child had been calm at home, he expressed worries over “what conversations my child will have with friends and what emotions will arise then.”

Upon reopening, the school decided to cover classroom windows facing the road with curtains, apparently to create a safer and more private environment for students.

(This article was written by correspondents Yohei Kobayakawa in Shenzhen and Ryo Inoue in Beijing.)

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