4 teens arrested for beating and stripping schoolmate, taking nude photos of him

"According to Governor Ishihara's thinking, the victim here is basically to blame for what happened to him. And, according to the Education Ministry, suspension for bullies is too severe.
That kind of logic is simply amazing."

Now since when has Japan and logic ever co-existed?

 

Have to say yes to your question.



"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." ("Deru kugi ga utareru.")

Until Bullying finally reaches Criminal Status in the average Japanese mindset, will it finally get hammered down. In the meantime I'd bet these 4 will do that bow and pretend to give a sincere apology in public thing to the victim and that will be the end of that. The 'Wa' and face is saved. Though the victim has pretty much been ostracized from his school and peers and is now labled a "problem" that has be oh, so gingerly handled now so as not to spoil the good High Schools reputation.
The ugly side of Japan is showing pretty clear here on how they deal with things that may cause real embarrassment, not to the victim but to the staff. Amazing couhtry it truly is. The good and the BAD.

 

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." ("Deru kugi ga utareru.")

Well, sometimes it just gets pulled out.

 

Believe what you will about the onion story, but the young lady relaying the story was a quite trustworthy witness to those events. To tell you the truth, I couldn't believe it either at first when she told me.

Do you have kids? I do and they've spent time in both Japanese & American public schools, and neither of them wanted to come back to Japan. Why not? They told us that American kids were much friendlier and nicer than Japanese kids. Maybe my kids were just lucky and landed in nice American classes, but it's always interesting to hear childrens' perspectives on these kinds of things.

I would also like to add that Japanese teachers (and principals) in general are part of the problem (from my own experience) in that they hate to rock the boat and confront problems, especially when it comes to dealing with the parents. They're really quite weak and it's unforgivable the lengths they'll go to to shirk (run from?) responsibility. Having said that, however, I acknowledge that there are also exceptional Japanese teachers and prinicipals, but they are far and few between.

I know it's a fine line between a stereotype and a generalization, and I hope that my views don't resemble the former. Every situation is different and unique in and of itself depending on the variables involved.

 

I'm fairly agressive, which is absolutely counter to this culture. I speak rather bluntly and do not hold anything back. So I tend to be a bit offensive, and sometimes rakish. But, more times than not, I'm effective. Sometimes it's not the most preferred method. I sometimes catch myself and say, "I could have doen this a bit better", but I digress.

The point is I can understand going through the administration and confronting the kids before it gets out of hand. But obviously, in this case, even the administration took sides with the bullies, or at least was wanting to look the other way (don't rock the boat as stated earlier).
I would just have a hard time letting my kid go through any of this.....

ciao

 

I will admit that Japan's crime statistics are much better than where I live in the U.S. But this is truly an ugly side of Japan if they tell the victim to stay home. Blaming the victim as exemplified in this case is shameful. I continue to feel very bad for this kid. I bet he has had a hard life through no fault of his own. I am not jaded by this and I am not saying Japan is bad. I am saying this is an area of concern. I have read on JT of many suicides and how many of them are related to bullying. Japan needs to put forth a greatly increased effort to reduce bullying. Yes I know it can never be completely curtailed but I will be damned if I am to believe that it can't be greatly reduced. I also accept that a solution may not be forthcoming anytime soon; I find this sad because in my western mind there is honor in protecting the weak. Sailwind, you have provided me insight to a unique facet of Japanese society with the concept of “Wa.” I am also grateful for the overview of how Japan is able to avoid dealing with protecting the victim and admonishing the culprits. Japan is a very intriguing country indeed.

 

I was shocked by the news.
Why did they say 'stinking' and 'dirty'??!
Why did they use violence?!?
Why cannot they get along well?
What is a meaning to take a naked photograph!??
I don't understand.
So,This news was unbelievable!!
I think,Japan is much horrifying news.
Do you think so?!
I wants to hear happy news more.

 

Gotta tell you it's not the way to go. I was an amateur boxer, some say a good one, for many years and at this stage of life, I see clearly the hopelessness of any aggression.
It just doesn't do anything to change anyone. Situations not only exacerbate, they
fester. Knock a man down in anger (out of the ring) and you have a real problem later in life looking back on it. Any experienced fighter will tell you this along with there's absolutely always someone out there better, faster, stronger.

Anger and aggression. To be avoided absolutely always.

 

Excellent post. I think it carries so much more weight from someone who can use his fists if he chose to but refrains. Thank you.

 

No, I don't think so. The biggest crimes committed in Japan these last few days have been a case of happy slapping and an old-age pensioner stalking. These things wouldn't even make the news in most countries.

 

"One Japanese girl told me that at her high school some girls would have their skirts completely lifted over their heads (this in a public high school) and tied with a rope/cord at the top above their heads."

When was that? I really don`t see how that would work with the miniskirts the HS girls in my neighbourhood are wearing. Lifting them to their heads? No way.

 

Now that is stupid.

 

Print up flyers that read:

"On (insert date), I was beaten, stripped naked and photographed by (insert names).

They keep copies of the pictures under their pillow, along with a tube of KY."

 

The onion incidents happened a few years ago in a rather rural area of Japan. Hard to believe, but the young lady who was witness to it was very reliable and claimed to have seen it happen more than once. BTW, if you're interested, there is an interesting book about Japan that touches on the subject of bullying. The title of the book:

"Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan" by Alex Kerr

Kerr gives reasons and cites sources as to why bullying occurs in schools and the ways in which schools and society actually encourage it. It's an interesting read. I've been in Japan for quite some time, and the book brought several social issues here into better focus.

 

that was a big issue back in the 80's when bullying was the hot topic as it is now. it has been, is and will be a problem. the solution? who knows, I know of no school system in any country that has found a solution.

fight back? if you can, but as Nitro pointed out violence breeds more violence. escape from it? stay home? this does not resolve the situation but just teaches avoidance.

kids are cruel. they prey on the weak, on weaknesses, on differences. and for parents, educators, where do you draw the line between good natured, but sometimes hurtful teasing, and malicious behaviour which escalates into the realm of criminality? sometimes you don't see this. And as we see in the news, many teachers, parents, etc. try to deny it exists.

for one, the understanding that bullying exists is important. even in the most pristine well behaved schools there is an element of the monkey troop, the strong exerting their dominance over the weak. this has to be recognized and kept from getting out of hand. will you prevent it from happening altogether? I doubt it, but you can perhaps help those who are bullied cope, because that's what its about. Whether its physical abuse or mental, people are exposed to this throughout their life. Someohow most cope with it.

But when extreme cases like this are discovered, you have to punish the perpetrators as criminals not bullies.