Interviews with people involved revealed that a teacher who was the director of the Ekiden club of a private high school in Fukuoka Prefecture, which has participated in the national high school Ekiden more than 40 times, had slapped the club members.
The teacher apologized and is being discreet.
Corporal punishment was revealed at Omuta High School, a private school in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
According to people involved, a male teacher in his 50s who was the director of the Ekiden club, during a club activity training camp held in Nagano Prefecture in August last year, attacked a third-year male student who was a member of the club multiple times. I mean I slapped you.
An anonymous report was sent to the prefecture, and as a result of the investigation conducted by the school pointed out by the prefecture, it was confirmed that corporal punishment was used.
In response to the school's investigation, the teacher acknowledged the corporal punishment and apologized to the parents, and since March 1, the teacher has been removed from supervision and has been suspended. We are also considering disciplinary action against teachers.
In an interview with NHK, the school said, "It is true that there was corporal punishment, and I feel very sorry for the club members and parents. We would like to thoroughly prevent recurrence, such as conducting training."
The Omuta High School Ekiden club has participated in the National High School Ekiden 43 times so far, winning five times.