By AKIMITSU ISHIGAKI/ Staff Writer
October 29, 2025 at 18:50 JST
An elementary school teacher is standing trial at the Nagoya District Court over illicit images of girls shared in a group chat. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
NAGOYA--A 42-year-old public elementary school teacher accused of sharing illicit images of young girls with a secret online group of voyeuristic educators admitted to the allegations in court on Oct. 28.
He is standing trial at the Nagoya District Court on charges that include taking sexually explicit images of children under 13 and damaging personal properties.
According to prosecutors, the teacher photographed the underwear of a 9-year-old girl during a school outing in September last year and shared the image with other elementary school teachers in a group chat.
Between October last year and June this year, he contaminated recorders and other personal belongings of five girls aged 10 to 12 with bodily fluids at his home, according to the indictment.
In one incident, he allegedly recorded himself defiling the items and shared the footage with someone outside the online group.
The Asahi Shimbun is withholding the defendant’s name out of consideration for the victims.
The teacher initially used social media to exchange classroom techniques and lesson ideas with fellow educators.
However, after posting sexually explicit content and receiving significant attention, he began interacting with several other elementary school teachers who appeared to share similar deviant interests.
This shift in focus led to the formation of a private group on encrypted messaging apps, first on Telegram, then on Element starting in August last year.
Within this group, illicit videos and images were shared among teachers from across the country. They are believed to have never met in person.
The Nagoya teacher initially installed a camera in his classroom to record lessons.
However, when the device inadvertently captured footage of a young girl changing clothes, he became fascinated with such images and began engaging in voyeuristic behavior, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said they plan to file additional charges against the teacher in mid-November.
Authorities believe around 10 teachers were involved in the group, with six already arrested and indicted.
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