Key Facts
• On September 5, 2022, a 3-year-old girl, Chinna Kawamoto, died of heatstroke.
• She was left alone for 5 hours in a bus with temperatures exceeding 40°C.
• The incident occurred at Kawasaki Kindergarten in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Chinna was found collapsed, having removed her clothes, with an empty water bottle.
• The family relocated due to unbearable grief and proximity to the perpetrators.
• The former director (76) received a 1 year, 4 months prison sentence in July 2024.
• A former teacher (50) was sentenced to 1 year with a 3-year suspended sentence.
• In January 2025, the family filed a damages lawsuit against the kindergarten operator.
• The family described their home as filled with Chinna’s laughter and hope before the tragedy.
• They expressed the emotional toll of returning to daily life without her.
Summary
Three years after the tragic death of 3-year-old Chinna Kawamoto, who was left in a bus for five hours in extreme heat, her family continues to grapple with profound grief. The incident occurred at Kawasaki Kindergarten in Shizuoka Prefecture, where negligence led to her death. The family has since relocated, citing the emotional strain of living near the perpetrators. Legal actions have resulted in prison sentences for the former director and a teacher, while the family pursues further damages. This tragedy underscores the devastating impact of negligence and the enduring pain of loss.
