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

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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. The board had said it acted at victims' request; the team found that in three of the four cases victims' wishes were not adequately confirmed. It found no intent to conceal the cases or protect the teachers and attributed the practice to uncritical adherence to precedent. The board disciplined 18 people in August 2024 but has not disclosed the discipline of the teachers in three of the cases, citing victim protection.

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