TOKYO -- An elementary school run by Tokyo's Nakano Ward falsely reported to the ward education board that a female teacher who had received sexually harassing messages from a male colleague in October 2024 had romantic feelings for him and that sexually suggestive language had been used in their conversations and messages, the Mainichi Shimbun has learned from sources close to the case.

The school created the report based solely on the male teacher's false testimony, never once interviewing the female teacher one-on-one. The latter was shocked by the incident and has been on leave for over a year. In September 2025, she filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Police Department against the then principal and vice principal for allegedly creating and using false official documents with seals, which has been accepted.

According to sources, the female teacher was transferred to the school in the spring of 2024 and began using the Line messaging app for work-related communication with the male teacher, who taught the same grade. Over time, their exchanges became more personal, and the male teacher made multiple sexually harassing comments, including expressing attraction to her appearance.

The complaint states that in late October 2024, the male teacher sent a message via Line containing words suggestive of male genitalia. The female teacher's husband discovered the message and contacted the education board, leading to a meeting with the principal, vice principal and male teacher. During the meeting, the male teacher apologized to the husband and received a verbal warning from the principal. The female teacher has been on leave since receiving the message.

In March 2025, the female teacher obtained a report through a freedom of information request to the education board, leading to the revelation that the school had reported the incident to the board in December 2024. The report falsely quoted the female teacher as stating that language suggestive of male genitalia had regularly been used in conversations and texts with the male teacher prior to the incident. It also inaccurately claimed that she had admitted to having a sense of impure thoughts and affection for him.

However, the female teacher had never been interviewed by the school as of that time, and the report was based on the male teacher's false statements. The female teacher requested corrections to the report from the school and the education board, but they have neither complied nor apologized. According to the board, the principal, vice principal and male teacher were transferred to other schools in April 2025.

An education board representative explained, "We are aware that the report contains inaccuracies, but we regard it something like a draft note." They stated that corrections would be considered if requested by the female teacher.

Meanwhile, the former principal explained to the Mainichi, "Because we were unable to interview the female teacher, we issued the report based solely on the male teacher's testimony, as directed by the board of education."

The female teacher expressed frustration, saying, "I had already been perplexed by the male teacher's words and actions for some time, and to have a false report suggesting I had sexual intentions remain as an official document is unbearable. The school and board of education should correct the report and fulfill their responsibility properly and issue an apology."

(Japanese original by Sahomi Nishimoto, Tokyo City News Department)