"Beaten and Cheered Like UFC Match"... School Bathroom Violence Video Shocks Japan

The Video Surpasses 100 Million Views on SNS
Controversy Grows Over Disclosure of the Perpetrator's Personal Information

A video showing a student at a Japanese high school indiscriminately assaulting a classmate, while other students cheer as if watching a martial arts match, has gone viral on social networking services (SNS), sending shockwaves through Japanese society. As the perpetrator's personal information has been identified and widely circulated online, concerns about secondary harm are also growing.

A student indiscriminately assaulting another student at a high school in Japan. X (formerly Twitter)

On January 7, local media including the Asahi Shimbun reported that the recent spread of a school violence video on SNS has sparked controversy throughout Japanese society over the reality of school violence. Previously, on January 4, a video of about nine seconds was posted on X (formerly Twitter). The video shows male student A, wearing a school uniform, assaulting another male student B with punches and kicks in the school bathroom. Several other male students of similar age were present in the bathroom. One student raised a broom and shouted a phrase reminiscent of the start of a martial arts match. The surrounding students laughed and cheered, effectively encouraging the assault.

Student B was assaulted without being able to put up much resistance, and even the sounds of the blows were captured in the video. The video quickly went viral after being posted, surpassing 100 million views. Since the faces and bodies were not blurred, the name, school, major, and personal photos of student A were identified and spread through SNS and online communities. Local netizens expressed outrage, calling it "obvious school violence" and stating that "students who stood by and cheered are also accomplices." At the same time, some criticized that "revealing the personal information of a minor is another form of violence."

Police Launch Investigation, Education Authorities Announce Fact-Finding Survey

As the controversy grew, the high school and the local education authorities received a flood of protest calls, and the police also launched an investigation. The Tochigi Prefectural Police confirmed that the video was filmed in December 2025 and stated that they are investigating the facts regarding the perpetrator and the students present at the scene. According to the police, student A admitted to the assault and stated, "I was wrong."

The video shows male student A, wearing a school uniform, assaulting another male student B with punches and kicks in the school bathroom. X (formerly Twitter)

The school confirmed that all the students in the video are indeed enrolled at the school. As it is currently winter break, the school plans to conduct a school-wide survey on school violence after classes resume and to establish measures to prevent recurrence. Tochigi Prefectural Governor Tomiichi Fukuda also stated at a press conference, "I was at a loss for words after watching the video," and emphasized, "Bullying and violence against vulnerable students must be eradicated." He instructed the education authorities to conduct a prompt investigation and release the results.

In recent years, there have been a series of cases in Japan where videos of school violence have spread through SNS. In 2023, a video of a student being assaulted by a group of classmates at a middle school in Osaka was released, resulting in the perpetrators being suspended or transferred. In 2022, a video of an assault in a classroom near Tokyo was filmed and circulated, and even students who filmed or stood by were subject to disciplinary action.

How Severe Are School Violence Penalties in Japan?

Under the "Act on the Promotion of Measures to Prevent School Violence" in Japan, when school violence such as assault, intimidation, or bullying is confirmed, the school and the board of education are required to investigate. Disciplinary actions such as reprimand, suspension, or expulsion can be imposed on perpetrators, and if the assault is severe, police investigations may proceed under criminal law for assault or bodily injury. However, under Japanese criminal law, those under the age of 14 are not held criminally responsible, and minors aged 14 or older are subject to the Juvenile Act, which focuses on protective measures such as referral to juvenile detention centers or probation.

As a result, there has been ongoing criticism that actual penalties are weak, along with calls for strengthening preventive education at the school and community levels. The Asahi Shimbun predicted that this incident will further expand discussions in Japanese society regarding the issue of school violence. The debate is expected to move beyond simply holding perpetrators accountable, to include the level of responsibility for students who stood by, encouraged the violence, or filmed and distributed the footage. Additionally, the Asahi Shimbun noted that renewed debate is likely over how much personal information about minors involved in such incidents should be disclosed, and how to balance victim protection with the public's right to know.