Why Zengum's really leaving Japan

[xoxoxoBruce]

A 26-year-old male teacher at a primary school in western Tokyo was arrested Monday on suspicion of stealing underpants from junior high school boys aged 12-13 whom he forced to disrobe at knifepoint, police said. Zengum*, who teaches sixth grade at Hamura Nishi Elementary School, has admitted to the allegations, the police said.

Officials of the Hamura city education board said there had been no problems with his work.

He is suspected of ordering eight boys who were playing on the grounds of an elementary school in Akishima, also in western Tokyo, on the night of Jan 20 to take off their pants at knifepoint.

Two of them escaped but the remaining six boys were forced to take off their jeans and underpants, which the teacher is suspected of stealing, the police said.

The teacher is also suspected of taking a mobile phone from one of the boys and making a nuisance call to his home after the incident.

* edited for clarity.