“Stop your damn crying”: Guilty Verdict for Staff Member in Abuse Case at Hyogo Facility for Disabled

Extract from The Mainichi Shimbun

March 12 2026

KOBE – In September 2025, a 21-year-old man residing in a welfare facility for people with disabilities in Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture, was assaulted by a male staff member and lost sight in his left eye. On the 10th, the Kobe District Court sentenced the former staff member, Akira Kamitake (23), to three years in prison, suspended for five years (the prosecution had sought four years of imprisonment). Testimony from the trial and further reporting have shed light on the background of the incident.

“I thought, ‘Stop your damn crying since morning,’” the defendant stated in a low voice during the court session on February 9th.

According to the ruling, around 5:30 AM on September 1, 2025, at a welfare facility in Sanda City, the defendant struck the victim near his left eye with his right knee, causing the eyeball to rupture and resulting in permanent blindness.

Shortly after 5:00 AM that day, the defendant—who had been on the night shift since the previous evening—entered the victim’s room to change his diaper. When the victim began to cry loudly, the defendant drove his right knee into the face of the victim, who was lying face-up on his futon.

The prosecution pointed out that the impact to the victim’s face was equivalent to at least 80 kilograms (approx. 176 lbs) of force. Although the victim is capable of uttering short words like “No,” his disability makes free movement and conversation difficult.

An Apology in a Strained Voice

The defense argued that the incident was impulsive. The victim had reportedly shown a dislike for the defendant’s care in the past, leading the defendant to feel frustrated. During the trial, the defendant testified that when the victim started crying, he felt “as if I were being rejected.”

Furthermore, the defendant testified that he was struggling with his relationship with his supervisor but had no one to talk to, causing stress to accumulate.

The facility houses approximately 50 adults and children with disabilities who require medical care or daily assistance. The defendant, who joined the facility in 2021, was responsible for assisting with meals and mobility. He initially had no particular interest in caregiving; after graduating high school, he looked for work that required no experience or qualifications. At the time of his hiring, he recalled thinking, “I can’t believe they’d hire someone like me.”

During the trial, the prosecutor read a statement from the victim’s parents: “Our son’s only joy was watching TV and videos, but now even that sole pleasure has been restricted.” After the sentencing request, the defendant stated in a strained voice, “I am truly sorry to the victim and his parents.”

In the ruling, Judge Mitsuomi Nyuko criticized the defendant, stating, “The victim was in no way at fault, and there is no room for leniency regarding such a short-sighted motive.” However, the judge granted a suspended sentence on the grounds that the defendant had paid damages to the victim’s side and showed remorse.