The Hidden Abuse of Japan’s Children
September 14, 2021 | By You Me We NPO
“CHILDREN HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN A BACK SEAT TO ADULTS’ INTERESTS IN JAPAN. THAT HAS TO CHANGE.” - YASUHISA SHIOZAKI
All children deserve to be protected and be entitled to a healthy life, yet for thousands of Japanese children, this notion is only a dream.
In Japan, one of the biggest issues to date deals with the neglect and abuse of children. Despite ranking 19th in the 2019 UN Human Development Index Ranking and possessing one of the strongest economies, the country’s implementation of child protection is severely lacking. While developed countries place the majority of abused and neglected children in foster homes, Japan takes an alternative approach. Instead, “Japan puts more than 80% of the 38,000 such children in residential-care facilities, according to government figures” [1]. Though UN guidelines encourage children be raised in a family setting, these facilities make for poor replacements
Under the ‘care’ of child workers in such facilities, the children are subjected to abuse and mistreatment. In an article published in Yahoo! Japan News, a nursery teacher Mari Okada (pseudonym / 40s) chose retirement after one week of witnessing the daily abuse of children in the nursery homes. Okada details instances of aggression, threats, and both physical and verbal abuse of the children. Believing their children would be cared for with tender love and affection, parents were ignorant to the mistreatment behind closed doors. [2]
“親の前ではニコニコ、虐待保育士の裏表が怖い” - SAYAKA OSAKABE
“I smile in front of my parents, but I fear the two sides of the abusive child workers” (Translation)
Angered and worried, Okada reported the issue, yet management only sought to keep quiet. Abused by caretakers as a child, Okada states, “in my own experience, I am concerned that there are many nurseries where abuse is becoming more commonplace”
Okada’s concern is not without merit as Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported from 1990 to 2014, the numbers of child abuse cases have continued to steadily rise (Figure 1.2.2 ). In 2019, 45.2% of children in care facilities and 39.3% assigned to foster parents, have experienced child abuse (Figure 1.2.3).
Figure 1.2.2 Number of Reported Child Abuse Cases (H2-H26 = 1990-2014)（厚生労働省, 2014)
Due to pressure for the improvement in children’s rights, the UN Committee on the Rights of Child urged Japan to make revisions to the legislation in February 2019. However, it was not until February 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) pushed for implementing 2019 amendments made to laws on children [3]. These included finally ending corporal punishment in Japan. Despite the progress made, victims of abuse continue to remain as cabinet minister Shiozaki quotes,
“THE PROBLEM IS IMPLEMENTATION, AND MAKING SURE THINGS ACTUALLY CHANGE.” - SHIOZAKI
Though the end of corporal punishment appeared to have been enforced since February in 2020, the HRW details a full length report on corporal punishment in athletics with the onset of the Tokyo Olympics. Victims of abuse in child athletes have voiced their experiences and the Human Rights Watch (HRW) have released a report that documents, “ depression, suicides, physical disabilities, and lifelong trauma resulting from the abuse”. [4]
As the fight for not only change in the legislation but for action to protect the rights of children continues, the support of society is key to improvement and reform. In 2020, Japan has reached their highest record of child abuse reports at 205,209. [5]
WHAT CAN YOU DO? HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The involvement of society is a catalyst for change and is quintessential to achieving rights for children between Knights in White Lycra (KIWL) x You Me We NPO (YMW), thousands of children suffering from abuse and neglect can be supported. KIWL x YMW NPO aims to raise funds to provide these children education, training, and life skills to lead them into a life of success. In light of the @GlobalGiving #LittleByLittle campaign, please join us and help make a change. With 50% matching on all donations up to $50, BIG change can come from lots of little acts of kindness!
Support KIWL 2021 Events, by giving today: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/kiwl-2021-events/
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[1]Kim, Chang-Ran. "The Kids Aren't Alright: Japan Struggles to Protect Its Most Vulnerable Children." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 23 May 2019. Web. 08 Sept. 2021.
[2]小酒部さやか. "認可保育園でも幼児虐待。叩く、突き飛ばす、転ばせる...実際に働いていた女性に話を聞いた（小酒部さやか） - 個人." Yahoo!ニュース. Yahoo!ニュース, 12 Oct. 2020. Web. 08 Sept. 2021.
[3]"World Report 2021: RIGHTS Trends in Japan." Human Rights Watch. 13 Jan. 2021. Web. 08 Sept. 2021.
[4]""I Was Hit so Many times I Can't Count"." Human Rights Watch. 12 Aug. 2020. Web. 08 Sept. 2021.
[5] World, Nhk. "Record Child Abuse Cases Handled in Fy2020: NHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS." NHK WORLD. NHK WORLD, 27 Aug. 2021. Web. 09 Sept. 2021.