Viral video of Japanese teacher punching student sparks fierce debate
- The clip, filmed by students who were watching the confrontation, has polarised the country
- Some have called out violence in schools, while others point out the pressure faced by school staff
The 74-second clip, apparently filmed by students who were watching the confrontation, initially shows the teacher talking with the 16-year-old boy in a hallway at Machida Sogo High School, in west Tokyo.
The boy had reportedly been reprimanded for wearing an earring, in contravention of the school’s dress code. The teacher appears calm at the outset, while the boy yells at the teacher: “Use that tiny brain of yours. Think about it!”
He later adds: “Are you a damned idiot?”
The dispute, which took place on January 16, suddenly escalates when the teacher, who has not been named, takes a step forward and punches the boy. The pupil falls to the floor but the teacher grabs him by one arm and stands over him as a group of pupils spill out of a nearby classroom and attempt to intervene.
