Image Credit: Yahoo! Japan
September 5 marks two years since Kawamoto China, then three years old, tragically died after being left behind on a shuttle bus at Kawasaki Kindergarten in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The incident, which resulted in severe heatstroke, led to the indictment of the kindergarten’s former principal and class teacher. The principal received a one-year and four-month prison sentence, while the teacher was sentenced to one year in prison with three years of probation. The judge condemned the principal for a significant lapse in safety responsibilities, emphasizing a serious failure to protect the children.
Recently, China’s father shared his enduring grief and frustration in a joint press interview, marking the third anniversary of his daughter’s death. Despite returning to work and trying to rebuild his life, he confessed that his anger and regret persist, noting that the resentment has not waned. He expressed deep frustration with both the former kindergarten staff and the shuttle bus assistant who failed to notice China was left behind. Although the family initially sought the closure of Kawasaki Kindergarten, the request remains unmet, with the institution reportedly evading their inquiries.
Additionally, the bereaved father has been tormented by slanderous comments on social media, which he finds deeply offensive and harmful. Insults claiming China deserved her fate and labeling her in derogatory terms have driven him to seek legal action to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the malicious posts.
Despite these challenges, China’s father plans to continue using social media to defend his daughter’s honor. He aims to counter false narratives suggesting the parents were at fault or that China was negligent. He is determined to clear his daughter’s name and ensure that the truth about the incident remains known.