An open space on the Hokkaido University campus where the party was held is seen in Sapporo’s Kita Ward on Aug. 6, 2025. (Mainichi/Shimpei Torii)
SAPPORO — A male assistant professor at Hokkaido University assaulted and injured multiple students while intoxicated at a social gathering, sources involved with the university have told the Mainichi Shimbun.
Following the incident, the students called on the university administration to conduct an investigation and take disciplinary action against the assistant professor, a member of the chemistry department of the university’s Faculty of Science, questioning the department’s reluctance to make the issue public. It took over a month following the incident for the department to distribute a document to students regarding “measures to prevent a recurrence.”
It had earlier emerged that several chemistry department members left in labs without lead professors were prevented from operating the labs and supervising students, leading them to complain to the Faculty of Science that they were being systematically isolated by the faculty council. The response to the assaults is additionally likely to raise questions about the department’s closed nature.
Department-sponsored party
According to the sources, the chemistry department hosted a baseball tournament in Sapporo on June 19 and 20, attended by faculty and students. On the evening of June 20, a barbecue party where alcohol was also served was held on the university grounds. During the event, a heavily intoxicated assistant professor reportedly threw students around sumo-style then went to a lab where he punched several students in the face, injuring them.
The lecture committee, which serves as the chemistry department’s faculty council, became aware of the incident shortly afterward. But even after nearly a week had passed, there was no formal apology or explanation to students within the department, which the students took issue with.
Concerned that the department might make out that there had never been any violent acts, the students emailed the university administration at the end of June calling for punishment of the assistant professor, an investigation into the matter and correction of the department’s response.
A document on measures to prevent a recurrence, which was shared within the chemistry department in Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Science, is pictured in Sapporo on Aug. 6, 2025. (Mainichi/ Shimpei Torii)
‘Measures to prevent recurrence’ give no details on perpetrator
The university administration is believed to have questioned the parties involved, and the lecture committee distributed a document titled “measures to prevent recurrence of alcohol-related violence in the chemistry department” to its staff and students.
The document noted that “alcohol-related violence occurred in a laboratory” and presented guidelines stating, “Drinking until heavily intoxicated is prohibited,” and “Violence, sexual harassment and nuisance behavior while drinking are prohibited.” However, regarding the incident in question, there was no explanation of details including who the perpetrator was, how many victims there were, or their genders.
When questioned by the Mainichi Shimbun, the university acknowledged the violence and stated, “Regarding disciplinary action for those involved, we will respond appropriately based on the investigation results and the university’s regulations.” As for management of the chemistry department, they said, “We are steadily working toward improving governance, issue by issue. We will continue efforts toward improvement.”
(Japanese original by Shimpei Torii, Hokkaido News Department)
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