At a certified children's school in Yamagata City, the director of a male kindergarten in his 60s had sexually abused multiple children, and on March 3, the city decided to suspend the acceptance of new children for one year, according to interviews with people involved.
According to Yamagata City, in June this year, staff members of a certified children's school operated by a school corporation in the city contacted the city about the director's inappropriate behavior.
As a result of a special audit conducted by the city, a male director in his 6s was found to have sexually abused four children from last year to this year, including lowering the girl's diaper and touching the boy's lower abdomen over his clothes.
It was also revealed that they had falsely reported the number of childcare workers and fraudulently received more than 60 million yen in benefits.
For this reason, the city decided to impose an administrative penalty on the kindergarten that would suspend the acceptance of new kindergarten children for one year as early as March 4, according to interviews with related parties.
According to the city, the director denied that the sexual abuse was "unfounded" and explained that he "applied for it by mistake" regarding the fraudulent receipt.
On the other hand, this kindergarten will be closed from November because it can no longer secure the necessary nursery teachers, and the city will consider transferring to the 1000 or so children who are currently attending the kindergarten in coordination with their parents.