Yokohama's school board sent staff to fill the public gallery at teachers' child sex-crime trials; a review found the practice violated open-trial principles and its claim of victims' requests was not borne out

In May 2024 the Yokohama City Board of Education disclosed that it had mobilised staff to occupy public-gallery seats at trials of teachers charged with sex crimes against pupils: one case in 2019 and three in 2023-24, involving 414 staff attendances over 11 hearings, with about 127,000 yen in travel costs paid. A lawyer-led verification team reported on 26 July 2024 that the organised mobilisation conflicted with the constitutional principle of open trials and went beyond staff duties under the Local Education Administration Act.