A female nursery school teacher in Kagoshima, aged 21, was arrested after allegedly slashing a boy's neck with a knife-like object at the nursery, an incident now being treated as attempted murder. The attack is believed to have taken place near the school entrance around 11:00 a.m. on Friday as the children were heading back inside after playing outside, according to a lawyer representing the facility. The suspect, Natsuki Sasayama, was taken into custody and sent to prosecutors after reportedly admitting to injuring the victim but denying any intention to kill.

According to reports, there were no witnesses to the incident, and it was not captured by security cameras. The victim, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, sustained severe injuries that will require at least a month to heal. The Kagoshima Minami Police Station made the arrest early Saturday following questioning of the suspect and others involved in the case. In a meeting held to update parents on the situation, the nursery's chairman offered apologies for the incident and announced plans to establish a panel comprising legal, medical, and parental representatives to create strategies aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.

Meanwhile, news sources have highlighted previous instances of children in Sasayama's class reporting scratches and cuts, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of the children under her care. The incident has sparked shock and disbelief within the community, prompting authorities to take swift action to address the situation and ensure the safety of all children attending the nursery school in Kagoshima.