Bullying Crisis at Elite Tokyo Elementary School Forces Student's Departure

A prestigious Japanese institution struggles with a bullying epidemic, raising concerns about institutional failures and student well-being.

A student has withdrawn from the Elementary School attached to University of Tsukuba, a highly regarded national elementary school in Tokyo, this year due to persistent bullying, according to a source familiar with the situation. This marks the second consecutive year that the school has reported a "serious" incident to Japan's education ministry, signaling a concerning trend within the institution.

In fiscal year 2023, the parents of a sixth-grade boy reported a bullying incident to the school's administration. Reportedly, a teacher initially failed to adequately address the issue. The latest case involved a student who, facing relentless backbiting and social isolation, was removed from the school by their parents at the end of January and transferred to another institution.

Japanese law defines incidents as "serious" if they inflict significant physical or mental harm on students or cause them to be absent from school for an extended period. The school’s Principal, Akihiro Sasaki, acknowledged the failure to provide adequate support, stating, "I am sorry that the school failed to take proper response." He declined to elaborate on the specifics, noting that an investigation had not yet commenced.

The Elementary School attached to University of Tsukuba, located in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, is affiliated with the University of Tsukuba and is known for its rigorous admission standards. Notably, Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, attends the university.

Nationally, the number of bullying cases classified as "serious" reached a record high of 1,306 in fiscal year 2023, a nearly 40 percent increase compared to the previous year. The education ministry attributes this rise, in part, to a greater willingness of schools to acknowledge and report instances of bullying.