Tokyo Times

In a crime that doesn’t lend itself to the colours blue or white, a 24-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday for holding a woman captive for over three months. With, as you’ve probably already guessed by the laboured opening sentence, the use of a collar.

It appears that Yasuyoshi Kobayashi became acquainted with his 19-year-old victim through the internet, and the pair eventually got together in a Tokyo hotel sometime in early March last year. But for the unfortunate young lady things quickly turned sour, as Kobayashi attacked her with repeated punches to the face before confining her in the room.

The unbalanced oppressor (who is alleged to have demanded he be referred to as master) then moved the woman to his home, and with the continued use of a collar kept her there until June 19. A momentous day for the victim, as when her tormentor’s guard briefly dropped, she successfully escaped.

During questioning, Kobayashi unbelievably told the police that despite the long time span he doesn’t remember the incident. An approach he’d be advised to adopt in the future when he finds himself confined for considerably longer than three months.

Working in a state-run junior high school, I’m well aware of how difficult some students can be. But that said, a 39-year-old Kagoshima teacher’s approach to discipline and class participation could be described as drastic to say the least.

During an art class on April 13, the teacher in question asked the students what colours they could name. But unfortunately for one boy, by the time it came to his turn most of the colours he knew had already been mentioned. The resultant pause as he desperately tried to think of an unused colour angered his decidedly impatient instructor, and before he knew it the teacher took out a paper cutter and shouted, “I’ll slash you if you can’t answer!”

Presumably the boy did answer, as there was no report of bodily harm, but that didn’t stop a disgruntled parent complaining to the school’s headmaster. And in a bid to diffuse the situation, principle Fukumoto said, “We are sorry for terrifying children.”

After admitting to the allegations, the cutter-wielding teacher apologised to the student and his parents. Bravely justifying his behaviour by claiming, “I did it to speed up the class.”