Child abuse cases in Japan reach new record

We reported suspected child abuse two years ago.

Actually Priscilla did. I got the number from a gov poster somewhere. Priscilla said who ever she called, were most unhelpful and felt they didn't believe her.

We left it at that.

Although not as bad as in the U.S. and numerous other countries, child abuse in Japan is absolutely horrifyingly shocking.

This and rampant domestic violence are two things I hate about living in Japan.

The number of domestic violence consultations also rose 1,454 to 84,496.

Wow. Amazing numbers to reflect on if you are living in Japan.

Probably tenfold as so many cases are still unreported

I’d say this is a global phenomenon caused by the multi layered residue effects from the chaos of the last few years and pandemic. Hopefully things will improve from now. With the birthrate already so low it’s a tragedy that these precious kids are getting abused. Here’s somewhere to spend some of that 4% Mr Kishida. Support networks for low income and broken families, were I imagine the bulk of the abuse is happening. Kids being the only hope for the future an all that …

Gladly they haven’t tried to blame the increase on covid. I guess it will remain a mystery as to whether the actual cases have increased or just the number of reports.

Wow, a lot to take in today. Suicide amongst children on the rise, child abuse on the rise, DV on the rise, revenge porn incidents on the rise, all this and the birthrate is still on the decline. Kishida needs to stop arguing about tradition and needs to start making the words "marriage" and "parenting" appealing again because right now it looks unattractive and I don't blame anyone for choosing not to.

About half of those behind the acts were romantic partners, but friends and acquaintances that victims only knew online represented some 20 percent of cases.

Who can you trust with your children anymore?

For sure the reality is much more high. Social assistants are not enough....

Stephen ChinToday  04:59 pm JST

Although not as bad as in the U.S. and numerous other countries, child abuse in Japan is absolutely horrifyingly shocking.

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Your classic triggered protect-japan's-false-positive image-at-all-costs comment is shocking.

More and more people in japan are coming out in regards to child abuse which has been a long on-going issue since long ago.

Too many angry little men.

So so sad for the children on the receiving end of such cowardice

Maybe paste this article under all the ones about the J-Gov navel-gazing over people having more kids. What's the point if you're doing next to nothing to protect the ones already here?

The numbers are shocking and horrible. Let's hope that they reflect an increase in incident reporting rather than an increase in incidents.

ZiziToday  07:11 pm JST

Too many angry little men.

So so sad for the children on the receiving end of such cowardice

And another one. Angry little women are also a root cause of child abuse.

Extremely troubling.

There needs to be very severe punishment for adults - I won't call them parents- who abuse kids. No suspended sentences. Lengthy prison time. Name and shame them in their communities and workplaces after a conviction.

The abuse of any child is always sad and tragic and they are defenseless. In my childhood community, the mothers/women always took care of anyone abusing a child. Never fail to report any cases you see.

it's not good to have the story's photo showing an adult with a fist . . . .

Terrible, absolutely disgusting.

Mental health is just swept under the rug too? Like finding a councillor or psychatrist here seems rare ?

And another one. Angry little women are also a root cause of child abuse.

That's a good point

@Stephen Chin I don’t think you live in the US what do you mean not as bad as in the US. Yes the US has its share but you better believe once it happens you will have to fight like hell to get that child back, it’s not a catch and release program where they return the child back to the parent and we read about the kid was killed abused more. In the US if your neighbor reports you of abusing your child you will get a visit from Child protection services, the teachers can report you ANYONE so your statement not as bad as the US is absurd. The consequences of going to court is against you one scratch or bruise you lose and if the child dies or gets injured badly and you end up in jail consider yourself a marked man or women prisoners have laws and harming a child is one of the quickest ways to end up getting shanked in the inside. If they survive you best believe they aren’t getting a slap on the risk they are put away for along time.

Although not as bad as in the U.S. and numerous other countries, child abuse in Japan is absolutely horrifyingly shocking

The cost of living going up wages suppressed stuck in a dead end job all of these things will cause these numbers to increase. Parents going home stressed from work and each other for any reason only makes it worse for the innocent child that may be there whom they will snap at for any little innocent thing they may do.

Abuse is unacceptable.

Remedy the causes, protect the vulnerable,

educate the ignorant.

No child (or anyone) deserves abuse.

Punishment does not work for children, and it doesn't;t work for adults either. This is now well-established in the research community.

So you are suggesting NO punishment for adults who bash, starve, neglect and sometimes kill children.

Lets just give these adults a hug and a talking to - right?

Unbelievable.

I remember a conversation when I first came to Japan in which a woman told me that there was very little child abuse in Japan. She said this because at that time, you almost never read about such stories in the news, which gave the overall impression to ordinary citizens that it didn't happen very often.

The truth is that child abuse has always been there; but in the past no one talked about it, very few people reported it, and the definition of child abuse was much narrower and not very clearly defined. Hitting children was more acceptable and was thought of as discipline, and the police and other governmental authorities didn't consider it to be within their purview to interfere in how parents decided to discipline their children.

But now that child abuse has become more clearly understood and defined, and much more socially acceptable to talk about it, the reports are increasing. This is good - it shows an increased understanding of what child abuse is, that people are more willing to report it, and that the police and governmental agencies are taking it more seriously. In other words, the system is starting to work as it should.

I also remember multiple conversations over the years in which people have pushed the idea that there is little violence against women in Japan, and that stalking, DV, sexual harassment, and sexual assault are rare. But as we can clearly see, like reports of child abuse, reports of violence against women are also beginning to rise. Similarly, people are much less accepting of DV and sexual harassment, the police are more willing to intervene in cases of DV and stalking, and it's becoming more socially acceptable for women to speak out and to press charges against the men who sexually assault them. The laws are also changing so that it is easier now to both report and press charges.

In other words, the numbers have always been high, and are rising now because less acceptance and more awareness means the willingness to report is rising.

What we are seeing is social progress. At last.

Don’t be naive people. Actual child abuse in Japan hasn’t gone up. Only the number of reportings have increased. I view this as a good thing. Means more people are noticing and taking action instead of the old japanese turn a blind eye to child abuse because it’s none of my business attitude.

So many dislikes for the comments saying that child abuse is bad/wrong.

What is wrong with some people on this site? Child abuse is wrong. If you disagree, you need help.

Don’t be naive people. Actual child abuse in Japan hasn’t gone up. Only the number of reportings have increased. I view this as a good thing. Means more people are noticing and taking action instead of the old japanese turn a blind eye to child abuse because it’s none of my business attitude.

Yes and no on this.

Yes: When I first moved to my neighborhood in Japan after marriage, my Japanese wife told me to mind my own business when I once heard a child screaming after a mom had apparently been shouting and scolding the kid. My first thought was to call the police on this. However, my wife told me to mind my own business as this is a family matter, rather than a public matter. I told her that family made it a public matter when we heard the crying and yelling. To her response, she said, "Okay, go ahead and call them, but you are going to look bad to the neighborhood and to us." So, being naive myself, I didn't do anythings, but I sometimes have guilts about this. Mind you, this was about 20 years ago.

No: Yes, that people are taking notice of this as a crime. We, as parents were told from my daughter's elementary school that if you notice any unusual harm on a child to report it to the school. When I heard that, my first thought was "Well, well! What's this about minding my own business? Now, school authorities are taking notice." To this, I didn't mention about that abusive incident about 20 years ago, since I didn't want to start arguments with my wife. However, at the same time, I told her that you can't let kids get away of everything, and that if you do, they'll just walk all over you. My dad spanked my sister and me when we were young and got out of line, and I'll do the same with my kids. Looking back at those spankings we got, one thing I learned was at least they made me think and that my sister and I turned out alright. We didn't go to jail, didn't do drugs, nor did we do anything to abuse ourselves, other than a bit of alcohol once in a while.

Mind you, I only did it to them a couple of times. However, I always told my kids why they got spanked and told them the reality of life if they continued their troubles into adulthood.

Yes, kids will be kids, just like we were. However, I was brought up to teach them the consequences of their actions and respect for people and for community.

That is so sad. Child abuse is inexcusable.

Because the sentenses that they receive are far to lenient.

For a nation that prides on mannerism and hospitality, sure reflects hypocrisy. As far as this incident goes, bunch of cowards taking on defenseless children. If in my presence you do me wrong to a child, got it coming to you!

If it pertains to them, these people are silent about it because it is a shameful thing. If it pertains to other people, they will be all over it!

To those people saying they have heard "abuse" or kids screaming, parents yelling, be careful when it comes to reporting something.

Anyone who has had or worked with children will realize that things like tantrums are part of a child growing up, and while the answer should never be physical, if you don't have proof that it is you can cause more problems.

Doesn't anyone wonder why there were 115,000 SUSPECTED abuse cases (which is 1/8 of the children born last year, btw), and only 2000 physical abuse cases? The way they deal with these cases in Japan is terrible. I've seen children who haven't eaten at home in weeks, eating nothing but school lunches. I've seen children who are taken care of primarily by an older sibling, sometimes still younger than 15. I've had kids under the age of 10 stinking of stale cigarettes, who clearly haven't bathed in weeks. As many times as the schools attempt to get police involved, nothing is ever done.

All the parents have to do is show them they gave the kid a calorie mate, go home earlier from work one day of the week, or open a window and those cases are thrown out.

Don't even get me started on parents who allow their children to stay home and never go to school.

In my experience, nearly 1/8 parents shouldn't be parents... Matches the reported cases, too.

Yes, the big number itself is shocking, no question. but please consider that it’s also another era now, everything is counted, not like decades ago. In my youth and with today’s scale , we would have had a 100% rate then. Not at all somehow abused, beaten or whatever else kids, those were the totally rare exception.