Overview
- The whole-school assembly at Okubo Elementary drew about 170 students, parents and local residents and marked the 22nd anniversary of the June 1, 2004 killing of sixth-grader Mitarai Satomi.
- Principal Shinichiro Yamaguchi opened the event with a call to cherish life and gave flowers at the renovated third-floor memorial, now called Ikoi no Hiroba.
- After a moment of silence, pupils spoke short pledges such as ‘I will value my life and everyone’s life’ and pledged to act against bullying and discrimination.
- Sasebo City continues to designate June as a month focused on life and peace, and the school will hold related activities including open moral-education lessons and safety checks later in the month.
- The 2004 case was handled through juvenile family-court proceedings and led to placement of the perpetrator in a children’s self-reliance support facility, and current coverage emphasizes remembrance, healing and preventive education rather than legal details.