National News

A Tokyo junior high school teacher has been arrested for performing indecent acts on one of his homeroom students shortly before she graduated last year, police said Saturday.

Akira Suzuki, 51, a mathematics teacher at a public junior high school in Taito-ku, stands accused of violating the Child Welfare Law. Suzuki admitted to the allegations during questioning.

"I did a shameful thing, both as an educator and as a person," he was quoted as telling investigators.

The girl said she could not resist his advances, "I couldn't refuse to go with him because I didn't want the teacher I trust to hate me," she was quoted as telling investigators.

Suzuki performed obscene acts on the girl, who was then 15 years old, at a hotel in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture on March 10 and 11 last year, about a week before her graduation, investigators allege.

Police say he told the victim to check in at the hotel under his name, so they could pose as a father and daughter. He also prepared a fake graduation trip itinerary for her to give to her parents.

The incident came to light after the girl contacted the Metropolitan Police Department last month.