Child maltreatment in Japan

Over the past 15 years, the number of child maltreatment incidents reported to Child Guidance Centers in Japan has increased more than three fold. Reviewing a wide range of policy white-papers and research reports in Japan, we discuss the prevalence of child maltreatment, its social construction over time, societal factors contributing to child maltreatment, and the development and design of the Japanese child welfare system. We conclude with a discussion of emerging issues and challenges. Findings A variety of risk factors exacerbate maltreatment in Japan. These include the decline of extended familial supports, low paternal involvement in childrearing, and demanding work routines for both men and women who seek professional careers. Throughout the paper, we discuss historically competing social constructions of the child, family, and work. In addition, we discuss the gendered roles of men and women in Japanese society. Japan's legacy of Shintoism and Confucianism, the institutionalization of patriarchy in the Tokugawa and Meiji Periods, and the modern constraints placed on families by Japanese corporations are explored as factors affecting child maltreatment and the services rendered by the child welfare system. Under the Child Welfare Act of 1948 and the Prevention of Child Abuse Act of 2000, approximately 90% of children in need, including maltreated children, receive care in large group home settings in Japan. Compared to other nations, Japan places great reliance on out-of-home care. Preventive systems to strengthen families and avert out of home placements have not be adequately developed. Applications Japanese scholars are re-examining the child welfare system in efforts to design family-based policies and services to both prevent maltreatment and provide alternatives to out-of-home care.