When A Child Might be Abused
– A Guide for When and Where to Call in a Child Abuse Case in Japan

Published September 2023

What do you do when you find out that a child may be abused? This page explains what you should do and what you can do if you find a child may be abused in Japan.

(This article is also available in standard Japanese and simple Japanese (やさしい日本語).)

All children are covered

Under the Japan’s Child Welfare Law and Child Abuse Prevention Law, all children can receive protection and welfare regardless of their nationality or origin, as long as they are within Japan’s jurisdiction.

This includes:

Definition of abuse

Child abuse is the act by parents (guardians) of not taking the responsibility to protect their children and instead harm them physically or mentally.

Sometimes adults living together, other than the parents, abuse children.

In some cases of child abuse, parents are also abused or controlled by their spouse/partner. When a child witnesses a parent being subjected to violence or verbal abuse, it is called “men-zen DV” (面前DV) in Japan, which is a form of psychological abuse.

(If you are a parent and your spouse/partner is threatening or violating you or controlling you mentally or financially, seeking outside help may help protect you and your child.)

Where to call?

If you find a child who you think is being abused, it is legally required to report (notify) the local “Child Guidance Center” or the local municipal office that has jurisdiction over the area. The nationality or age of the person who report does not matter.

What will happen after child abuse is reported?

(1) What the Child Guidance Center does first

After Child Guidance Center receives report about child abuse, they categorize the report into “consultation” (soudan 相談) or “notification” (tsukoku 通告), which is more urgent.

In the case of a “notification”, the Child Guidance Center is required by law to visit the site and directly check the safety of the child. (In principle within 48 hours).

If the abuse is serious, the Child Guidance Center will conduct a “temporary protection” (ichiji-hogo 一時保護) of the child on the spot and separate him or her from the family.

(In Japan, even when child abuse is confirmed, parents are not always arrested and prosecuted. The child’s protection & welfare and the legal actions proceedings against the parents are decided by different agencies.)

(2) Protection and Guidance by the Child Guidance Center

In addition, if the temporary protection is not sufficient, the Child Guidance Center will consider to place the child in a children’s home, infant home, or foster home (jidou-yougo-shisetsu 児童養護施設, nyuji-in 乳児院 and sato-oya 里親, respectively).

If it is determined that it is ready for the child to live with his/her parents, the child is returned from the facility/foster care to the parents under the judgement of the Child Guidance Center.

While the child is in the care of an institution or foster parent, visits between the child and their parents is basically permitted. However, in cases of severe abuse, etc., an order may be issued restricting parent-child contact.

On the other hand, the Child Guidance Center’s job is not limited to separating parents and children.
Depending on the degree and frequency of abuse, the Child Guidance Center may decide that there is no need to separate the parent and child.

In such cases, the Child Guidance Center will not separate the child and the parent but will instead provide support through home visits and other ways of support.
The Child Guidance Center will support the parent in raising the child by understanding the parent’s concerns and sense of burden. If the parent and child require special support, the center can work with them to find appropriate welfare services.

(3) Status of Residence

There are cases where a child has not obtained residency status or loses it during the process. In such situations, the Immigration Services Agency will decide whether to grant special residency status.

Conclusion

You may hesitate to make a report if you only have partial information or if you are unsure if the child has been abused.
But if you give the information to the experts, they can make a judgment on whether abuse has occurred, while referring to other information.

Please report if you suspect a child may be abused.
Your report may save the child’s life, and it may also help the child’s parents.

Reference

* This article was written by Lights On Children and was translated into English with the help of volunteers.