Japan struggles to fight child abuse, protect child rights

Child abuse is a problem worldwide and comes in many forms, including violence and neglect. The World Health Organization estimates that around one billion children have experienced some form of abuse in the past year. This abuse is not only frightening and dangerous for children in the short term, it can also cause long term developmental issues.

In 1989, the United Nations established the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty defining the rights of children. These rights relate not only to children’s protections from abuse, but also their ability to develop their personalities and achieve their potential in loving, supporting environments.

Japan’s abuse and neglect cases

How does Japan stack up regarding child abuse and child rights? Japan was an early signatory to the Convention, having signed it in September 1990. Japan has its good points regarding the safety and lives of children. However, it has been the subject of some criticism and there have been several high profile cases of abuse and neglect.

People overseas are likely familiar with depictions of child poverty and neglect through the works of film director Hirokazu Kore-eda. His 2004 film Nobody Knows is based on the infamous Sugamo incident from 1988. It features four children who were abandoned by their mother after she ran off to live with her boyfriend. One tragic outcome of this incident was the killing of one of the children by the oldest child and his friends.

More recently, a 3 year old girl in the Kamata neighborhood of Tokyo’s Ota Ward passed away after being abandoned.

Shoplifters, a more recent Kore-eda film, also covers violence against children, though not as the primary topic. Violence is one of the primary forms of abuse against children in Japan. In 2019, there were a record 1,972 cases of child abuse overall, with most of those involving physical abuse. One high profile 2019 case covered by Japanese and overseas media was the death of a 10 year old girl at the hands of her father in Chiba. Her father abused her for some time, despite the girl’s pleas to teachers and her being placed in protective custody for a short time.

To ensure safe, nurturing environment for children

Japan has only very recently banned all forms of corporal punishment against children. The amendments to the country’s child abuse laws, which now prohibit physical punishment, came into effect in April 2020.

Japan has also been criticized by United Nations groups regarding child abuse and rights. In 2019, the Committee for the Rights of the Child urged Japan to take measures to ensure that children live happy and productive lives. This was not only regarding physical abuse, but also the competitive nature of Japanese schooling causing unnecessary stress.

None of this is to say that Japan is an awful place for children overall. Many Japanese children live in supportive and healthy environments and go on to be happy and well-adjusted adults.

Nevertheless, the issues children do face are still serious, and are in no way diminished by their age. Children may not have the development and life experience of adults, but they are every bit as entitled to the same rights. Safe, supportive environments that allow children to realize their full potential are important keys to ensuring bright futures not only for children themselves, but for society in general.