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Images were shared in a group of 10 primary and junior high school teachers, police said. It was run by one of the men arrested and was based on an unnamed social media site. Police investigations also discovered that the men had taken photos of girls while they were changing, as well as manipulated images or "deepfakes" that had been created from their headshots. Some of the footage had the appearance of being filmed in schools, though it was not clear whether the schools were where the affected teachers worked.
Investigation Triggered by Separate Offense
The group had been under investigation since one of its members was arrested in a separate incident involving a 15-year-old girl. The teacher "deposited bodily fluids" on her backpack, reports say. On closer examination of his phone forensics discovered the existence of the twisted chat group which had also involved other suspects - sparking further inquiries and further arrests.
Japan enacted sweeping changes to the laws surrounding sex crimes in May 2023, in an effort to close longstanding legal loopholes that have left victims without protection. The reforms came in the wake of public furore over several rape acquittals in 2019. And one of the key changes was a new law that made it illegal to film children "in a sexual manner without justifiable reason." Offenders could be imprisoned for up to three years or fined up to 3 million yen (about £15,160 or $20,800).
Tougher Protection for Children Brought in from 2023
The 2023 reforms also lifted Japan's age of consent from 13 to 16 and expanded the legal criteria for what constitutes a rape. These changes were among an attempt to bring Japan's century-old laws on sexual offences into the modern era.
Despite potential reforms, the case highlights fresh fears over misbehaviour at schools and the role of social media for ill. The authorities are still investigating the true scale of the group's operations, and whether any other teachers or students were involved in or affected by its activities.
