Shino's day-care center holds surprise drills in which a man climbs over the walls and enters the playground with a knife, she says, as her daughter knowingly explains that a scary man means children should go inside immediately.
But another parent at the self-defense class, Hideo Kim, admits that the real concern for his eight-year-old son, Eishi, is not adults but other youngsters.
"The real reason we came here was persistent bullying," the father says. "Self-defense is important as you never know what will happen to you."
The lesson ends with the children shouting "No!" together and stomping on the ground.
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