"Beating a Friend Like an MMA Fight, Cheering Afterwards"... Japanese High School Bullying Video Sparks Outrage

[Financial News] A video showing a male student at a Japanese high school brutally attacking a classmate while peers cheer has rapidly spread online, causing public outrage. As the incident escalated, local education authorities and police responded immediately.
According to reports from The Asahi Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) on the 7th, a nine-second video was posted on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) on the 4th. The footage, believed to have been filmed in a school restroom, shows a male student identified as A assaulting another male student, B, both wearing school uniforms.
In the video, one student raises a broom and shouts as if announcing the start of a martial arts match. Student A then appears and begins to attack B relentlessly. Other male students at the scene can be seen laughing or cheering as the assault continues.
As the video spread rapidly, Japanese society was left in shock. Local internet users expressed outrage, commenting, "It's unbelievable to film school violence and upload it to social media," "I feel sorry for the victim who couldn't fight back," and "The students who encouraged and cheered should also be punished."
As the controversy grew, the personal information of student A, including his name, school, and photos, was quickly circulated online.
Upon learning of the incident, Tochigi Prefecture police determined that the video was filmed last December. Authorities are currently investigating the students featured in the footage, and it has been reported that student A admitted his wrongdoing during police questioning.
The school also acknowledged that the individuals in the video are enrolled at the institution. A school official explained that, since it is currently winter break, a survey on school violence will be conducted for all students after classes resume.
Tomiichi Fukuda, governor of Tochigi Prefecture, also called on education authorities to respond swiftly. In a press conference the previous day, Governor Fukuda stated, "I am at a loss for words," and added, "I hope bullying against vulnerable students will come to an end."


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter