Iwaki City Reverses Payment for Discarded Earthquake Anniversary School Lunches
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture reversed a decision regarding 2,100 discarded school lunches canceled on the Great East Japan Earthquake anniversary. Following public backlash over food waste and poor communication, the city will pay the vendor directly instead of accepting personal payment from former Superintendent Juri Hattori. Hattori will repay the city and donate the funds. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for the administrative errors and distress caused to students and parents, highlighting tensions in disaster commemoration protocols.
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Former Superintendent to Donate Funds After Controversial School Lunch Cancellation in Iwaki
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced a resolution regarding the controversial cancellation of sekihan (red rice) school lunches on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Approximately 2,100 meals were discarded, causing public outcry. Initially, then-Superintendent of Education Juri Hattori personally paid approximately 340,000 yen to cover vendor costs. However, following legal advice that individual payment was accountingly inappropriate, the city will pay the vendors directly and request reimbursement from Hattori. Hattori intends to donate the refunded amount to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents. The incident sparked around 700 public comments, with many criticizing the waste and suggesting that educators should have explained the significance of the date to students instead of canceling the meal. This case highlights tensions between disaster commemoration protocols and educational practices in Japanese schools.
asahiFormer Superintendent to Donate Repaid Funds After School Lunch Cancellation Controversy
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced that it will cover the costs of approximately 2,100 discarded school lunches, reversing a previous arrangement where former Superintendent Juri Hattori personally paid the vendor. The incident occurred on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when sekihan (red rice) prepared for graduating students was suddenly canceled and disposed of due to sensitivity concerns. Following public backlash and around 700 citizen comments criticizing the waste and lack of explanation to students, the city determined that individual payment was accounting-wise inappropriate. Consequently, the city will pay the vendor roughly 340,000 yen and request Hattori to repay this amount to the municipality. Hattori, now an employee of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, intends to donate the refunded money to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents, acknowledging the administrative failure in handling the sensitive date.
asahiFormer Superintendent to Donate Funds After Controversial School Lunch Cancellation in Iwaki
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced that it will cover the costs of approximately 2,100 discarded school lunches, reversing a previous arrangement where former Superintendent Juri Hattori personally paid the vendor. The incident occurred on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when sekihan (red rice) prepared for graduation celebrations was suddenly canceled and disposed of due to sensitivity concerns. Following public backlash and over 700 citizen comments criticizing the waste and lack of explanation to students, the city determined that individual payment was accountingly inappropriate. Consequently, the city will pay the vendor roughly 340,000 yen and request Hattori, now a Ministry of Education official, to return the funds he initially provided. Hattori intends to donate this refunded amount to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents, acknowledging the procedural errors and emotional impact of the decision.
asahiFormer Superintendent to Donate Repaid Funds After School Lunch Cancellation Controversy
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced that it would cover the costs for approximately 200 discarded school lunches, reversing a previous arrangement where former Superintendent Juri Hattori personally paid the vendor. The incident occurred on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when sekihan (red rice) prepared for graduating students was suddenly canceled and disposed of due to concerns about appropriateness. Following public backlash and around 700 citizen comments criticizing the waste and lack of explanation to students, the city determined that individual payment was accounting-wise inappropriate. Consequently, the city will pay the vendor roughly 340,000 yen and request reimbursement from Hattori, who currently works for the Ministry of Education. Hattori intends to donate the refunded amount to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents. The case highlights tensions between bureaucratic caution and educational sensitivity regarding disaster commemorations.
asahiFormer Superintendent to Donate Repaid Funds After School Lunch Cancellation Controversy
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced that it will cover the costs for approximately 2,100 discarded school lunches, reversing a previous arrangement where former Superintendent Juri Hattori personally paid the vendor. The incident occurred on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when sekihan (red rice) prepared for graduation celebrations was suddenly canceled and disposed of due to sensitivity concerns. Following public backlash and over 700 complaints arguing that the food should have been served with an educational explanation rather than wasted, the city determined that individual payment was accountingly inappropriate. Consequently, the city will pay the vendor roughly 340,000 yen and request Hattori to repay this amount to the municipality. Hattori intends to donate the refunded money to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents. The case highlights ongoing sensitivities regarding disaster commemorations and administrative transparency in Japanese local governance.
asahiFormer Superintendent to Donate Funds After Controversial School Lunch Cancellation in Iwaki
The Iwaki City Board of Education in Fukushima Prefecture announced that it will cover the costs for approximately 2,100 discarded school lunches, reversing a previous arrangement where former Superintendent Juri Hattori personally paid the vendor. The incident occurred on March 11, the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when sekihan (red rice) prepared for graduating students was suddenly canceled and disposed of due to concerns over appropriateness. Following public backlash and legal advice indicating that individual payment was accounting-wise inappropriate, the city paid the vendor roughly 340,000 yen. The board will request Hattori, now a Ministry of Education employee, to repay this amount, which he intends to donate to the city. Current Superintendent Yosuke Hirasawa apologized for poor information sharing and the distress caused to graduates and parents. The decision drew around 700 public comments, with many suggesting the meals should have been served with an explanation about the earthquake's significance rather than being wasted. This resolution aims to address both the financial irregularity and the public sentiment regarding food waste and disaster commemoration.
asahi