"Many Children Injured by Bladed Weapon"... Shocking Actions of Japanese Nursery Teacher Who Killed Students

Arrested the Day After the Incident on Attempted Murder Charges
"I Did Not Intend to Kill," Denies Some Allegations

A daycare teacher in her 20s in Japan was arrested by the police on suspicion of stabbing a 2-year-old child with a weapon. It was later revealed that there had been frequent incidents of children under her care sustaining cut wounds, shocking local residents.

On the 10th (local time), Japanese media including Fuji News Network (FNN) focused on the case of daycare teacher Sasayama Natsuki (21), who is accused of stabbing a 2-year-old boy with a weapon.

Sasayama is suspected of killing the boy, identified as B, around 11 a.m. on the 7th at a daycare garden in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. At the time, the children and daycare teachers were returning to the daycare after playing in the garden, and Sasayama is believed to have committed the crime near the daycare entrance.

Suspect in the attempted murder case of a 2-year-old kindergarten student, Natsuki Sasayama (21) [Image source=FNN capture]

Immediately after the incident, staff who heard B’s cries rushed to the scene and found him collapsed and bleeding. They promptly called emergency services (119). The paramedics transported B to the hospital. B was diagnosed with injuries requiring four weeks of treatment and is currently receiving care at the hospital.

Sasayama was immediately identified as a suspect after the incident and was arrested by the police on the early morning of the 8th on suspicion of attempted murder. During the police investigation, Sasayama admitted to injuring B but denied some charges, including the intent to kill the child.

According to media reports, the daycare initially described the incident to parents as an "accident" and announced a temporary closure. However, after the police investigation began, the description was changed to an "incident."

Meanwhile, the daycare’s lawyer stated that Sasayama "had been working since February and took charge as a homeroom teacher in April," adding, "The childcare records indicate that Sasayama’s work attitude was diligent, but it was confirmed that many children in her class had bruises or cut wounds." The daycare where the incident occurred plans to establish an investigative committee to clarify the facts.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the daycare experienced a shortage of staff earlier this year when about ten teachers resigned at once.