The number of child abuse cases reported to police and child welfare centers in 2013 was 21,603, a 31.8% increase over 2012, the National Police Agency announced Thursday.
It is the first time the figure has exceeded 20,000, the NPA said. Japanese media quoted an NPA official as saying that more cases are being reported because of a growing public awareness of the issue, especially at schools and hospitals. Of the total, 25 deaths due to physical abuse were reported, police said.
The NPA also said that the production and sale of child porn has been increasing for the past six years. TBS quoted an NPA official as saying 1,644 cases of child porn were reported in 2013, 48 more than in 2012.
Police said that 646 cases, or 40%, indecent photos of children (defined as being under the age of 18) were posted on smartphones.
© Japan Today
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sensei258
Gotta be a special place in hell for these people.
Disillusioned
But, is this enough for the government and Japanese society to realise there is a problem in Japan and actually take measures to stop this trend? You can add all the child suicides to this number as well. Yeah, this stuff happens all over the world, but posting figures about it does nothing to stop it from happening.
CrazyJoe
If this were a communicable disease we would call it an epidemic and use all of our resources to do something about it. We do have an epidemic and in the past nothing had been done about it. Any behavioral pattern that deviates from normal personality traits in young children should be investigated.
HCKpro
I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING IT... but...
Keep in my the MOJ counts pictures kids take of themselves and send to other kids or post on dating websites as child pornography, and just in the last year or so they've started taking a notice in this, so I would guess that this accounts for some of the rise.
Tahoochi
Tip of the iceberg I'm sure.
And just as Disillusined posted, it would be nice to see not only the number of cases reported, but the number of cases closed.
Rainbow_Demon
Wow. Tie the physical child abuse with child porn, and make it look like both have dramatically increased when its only one.
And with the porn, from 1596 cases to 1644 in one year. Hardly dramatic. And define a case? Is 12 people with the same picture defined as one case or 12?
What I think is that it is desperately wanted for us to perceive something that is not really there.
The way I see it, this is just dividing attention on a problem that needs serious attention; the problem of the physical abuse of children.
nedinjapan
No surprise! Japanese TV and other cultural media constantly promote Childish looks as feminine, beautiful, sexy, or simply said, Kawaii. You would notice it if you compare TV programs with a close neighbor, Korea. It is disgusting to see this fear of age growing to a scale that people worship adolescents in every respect including sexual imagery. You cannot change the culture drastically but it is good to remind the Japanese what this Kawaii culture id doing to the minds of their stressed out and frustrated men.
Asian2013
All child abusers and all child pornography viewers should be punished and sent for mental treatment and I mean all! I trust no society on earth allows the abuse of children. Children are to be protected.
jojotoday
Completely agree Ned.
Saiaku
I dont think it helps that japanese porn is often themed with incest, rape and abuse. Give a loser enough time with these kinds of videos and he'll start thinking it's real.
Novenachama
Unfortunately, we've seen a rise in the distribution of pornography and increase in child abuse and molestation in society by sick monsters which has caused extensive psychological and physical damage to many children. The images shared online and the unbelievably disgusting and sickening level of violence associated with child exploitation and sexual abuse crimes seem to only get worse. Tragically the only place we see a decrease in is the age of victims. This is simply unacceptable period. Adults are suppose to protect children and set boundaries for them, not make them the objects of lust, which is dehumanizing.
tmarie
I'm glad there is more reporting but what is actually happening with regards to prevention charges and punishments? The punishments I've read/heard about here are a joke when it comes to family abusing kids. So many suspended sentences and mothers getting off far too easily in my opinion. Japan needs to start getting serious about this issue. They also need to get serious about DV as the two are related.
And yes, the sexualization of young girls here is sick. Japan is well known for being very liberal in this area and I think it explains a lot of the issues we see here in the news.
CrazyJoe
The abusing parent doesn't want to injure his child, but often he or she is ill-equipped to cope with a stress situation. The abusing parent, is not fully matured and acts out impulsively in stress situations. There is usually a tremendous guilt felt immediately afterwards, but it tends to repeat itself unless there is some intervention.
noriyosan73
There was a tremendous increase in the number of reported cases in the USA when teachers, administrators, bus drivers, nurses, police, firemen, and other government employees were mandated by law to report the slightest suspicion of any form of child abuse to the Child Protective Agency (CPA.) All reports are confidential and the reporter is not identified nor does he or she need any proof of child abuse, just concern. If the person does not report, and it is true, that person is subject to a fine and possible jail time. Thousands of children have benefited from the law. If Japan doesn't have such a law, it needs to enact it. If it has the law, then everyone needs to be reminded of his or her responsibility every year. Japan also need the "Amber Alert" law for abducted children. Japan tends to try to ignore these problems in order to protect the reputation of the school or agency. It is time to put children first before school or agency negative publicity.
Lowly
imo these numbers are a good thing. It shows people becoming aware of a problem that was already there and now more likely to act on it. I just believe that good support services are there to help abused kids grow beyond it.
Nedinjapan -- I didn't understand your post. Korea is worse? or doesn't have it? ...
noriyosan- "put children first before negative publicity" -- nice idea, but not likely. The group is where the loyalty lies and protecting face and the integrity of the group to itself is more important than interactions w/ outsiders, including outsiders (police social services) that can help injured members of the group.
Frungy
That 40% of these cases are smart-phone related is very important. I suspect that a lot of these cases are just kids exploring their sexual identity in a reasonably safe way (compared to when we were kids - it is much safer to send out a few naked photos than meet some boy behind the bicycle shed) and are not being hit with criminal charges... it is stupid. Sure, go after the adults, but leave the kids alone.
YongYang
With a focus on the terrible consequences of what child abusers are and what child abuse is, may the day arrive when there are no longer any victims from this appalling behavior.
HB714
As of last year Japan was number one( worldwide) in child pornography exports.. Haven't checked the recent statistics but I'm sure they are still at or near the top of the list..Funny the article makes no mention of this?! Can't say I'm really surprised by this article.. I see parents wacking their kids over the head or across their face just walking down the street everyday.. Not to mention kabikura, soap , health and every other kind of sexual service offered in every city and or town throughout Japan.. Most if not many of my young female students have some kind of groping story to tell while on the train or elsewhere in some public establishment..
nath
Imports I could believe. Exports? I'm skeptical.
Are you really trying to liken these to child rape and child porn? Try again. That's like equating sex between consenting adults to child rape.
HB714
@strangerland- It's a fact whether u accept it or not( and no i meant export)..As for equating the aforementioned industry to child pornography actually yeah I am!! Have u ever seen the girls working in these shady establishments? Gotta question the age of many of them myself.. These jobs are often a stepping stone to the porn industry..Was there not just an article the other day about an underage porn ring run by four sick individuals?Just in case u were unaware child porn relates to any individual under the age of 18.. But hey u can equate it any way u like!!
nath
At the moment, it's something you've said. That doesn't make it fact. If you can show something to prove that what you are saying is correct, and not something you've mis-remembered, or made up, that will make it fact.
Well there goes your credibility out the window.
While some of these places may have underage girls, it is very illegal, and entirely not the norm.
Your point being? You realize the porn industry is a legal industry, with willing participants, correct?
Maybe, but again that's not the norm.
It's obvious you have puritanical extremist views regarding the sex and porn industries, and even though these are legitimate industries, filled almost entirely with consenting adults, you have equated it to child porn. Sorry, but that removes any credibility from your statements.
tmarie
You realize the porn industry is a legal industry, with willing participants, correct?
You do also realise that some are not so willing, right? I'm all for porn with regards to it being legal - and include prostitution as well - but Japan is VERY shady with regards to porn, sex workers and the illegal things that go within the industry.
Child rape and child porn goes hand in hand with the "legal" sex industry. One doesn't really have the stretch their imagination too much to realise that Japan has serious issues with both and that both are related to child abuse.
nath
Have you ever known anyone in the industry in Japan? I have. They sign extensive contracts as to what will happen in a shoot, and what they will do. The industry itself is shady, but they do everything pretty legitimately. Trying to equate it with child porn, as the other poster did, is ridiculous.
Child rape and child porn do NOT go hand in hand with the legal industry. This is like people who try to equate homosexuality with pedophilia or beastiality. Just because it doesn't fall in line with your morals does not equate it to other things that are clearly immoral.
ellafino
Does Japan still allow the depiction of underage characters involved in sexual situations in Manga/Anime? I recall they were trying to get it banned last year but were getting push back from publishers. I know that there is a perception that Japan condones this type of material, but the barely legal genre exists in every country that has an adult film industry.
tmarie
Yes Stranger, I have. Still friends in fact. Please don't try and play the gaijin "I have friends" trump card with this because I'm sure many posters on here know people in the industry or people who worked in it.
You agree that the industry is shady but then try and then say "they do everything pretty legitimately". That is a ridiculous statement to make after what you've just said.
Child rape and child porn do indeed go hand in hand with the industry here - because of the lax laws that are out there with regards to child porn and the lack of protection for those victims involved. There is a massive link to porn workers and child abuse/sexual abuse, regardless of the country. Plenty of research out there on the topic.
You do understant that a lot of porn actresses and soap land workers in Japan were abused as children, right? You do understand enjokosai is child prostitution, right? You also understand that some of those former child prostitutes move into porn, right? Be it consentual porn or not, there is a link. I'm also hoping that you know that Japan has a massive issue with sex trafficing and that many of those women were taken and forced into the sex industry at a very young age, right? You get that many of these women are drugged, and beaten into submission so your claim of "consentual" certainly isn't my idea of consentual, right? They get older, don't have many other options and stay in the business. Yes, there are plenty of fresh faced, university students who go into porn to pay tuition but if you think that is the norm of porn workers here,or anywhere, you really should read up more on the topic.
I've already said I am fine with porn and prostitution so your red herring about morals is just that, a red herring.
nath
Not at all. The industry is shady because they are basically convincing people to do something that most people don't think is a good idea. But they do it legitimately, and it's consenting adults. Compare this with child porn which is non-consenting (as consent cannot be given), totally illegal, and completely immoral.
And that connects the porn industry to child porn how?
And that connects the porn industry to child porn how?
And some of the move on to be dentists, and some move on to be in marketing. Does this mean that dentistry and marketing are connected to child porn?
There is a link between any two things in the world if you look hard enough. Look at my above to comparisons to dentistry and marketing.
In the porn industry? I have to admit, I've never heard any stories like that.
tmarie
Seriously? Not only have I given you the dots, I've connected them for you. If you want to believe that the two industries have nothing to do with each other, fine by me but I'd keep that to yourself as it makes you look very ignorant and unware of the industry you seem to think you know a lot about.
harvey pekar
These cases will continue to rise if there aren't considerably harsher penalties. It's truly disgusting this country's blase attitude towards child pornography. Even 14 yr old girl bikini videos can be seen behind some convenience store registers, and young teenage girls on high stages with conveniently placed cameramen pointing their cams up are openly idolized by older men on TV constantly.
Every time I ask, don't you think this is strange or wrong? I'm give shrugged shoulders.
Rhazel Saliw-an Satake
It's time that japan will realize that there is something wrong. Porn magazines, books are publicly sell all over the books stores , convenient stores et al.
NathalieB
It absolutely IS there - read the other posts for just a few anecdotes, or go into any combini and look at the magaine rack. You may not find ACTUAL child porn but you find drawn child porn and a lot of pictures of models done up to look under 18 even if they arent - catering to the demand.
BOTH problems need serious attention.
Bob Sneider
this needs to be addressed as a problem for the direction Japanese society as a whole is headed
Michael Karolewics
Here is where Japan will say that "Americans are involved, so therfore we will NOT sign the Hague Treaty"....This is so damn sad...I agree with the reader who said "There has to be a special place in hell for these people" and I really hope that abusers get those seats.
Alex80
Can you post some beliavable source? I was able to find something only about web pornography in general, and the USA is the leader in the creation of online porn.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/13/america-is-1-at-something-unfortunately-its-porn-web-sites/
CH3CHO
HB714Mar. 08, 2014 - 01:39PM JST
Where does this allegation come from? It is a crime in Japan to produce or distribute child pornography. I bet you do not have any statistics to support your claim.
tmarieMar. 08, 2014 - 05:03PM JST
What does this have to do with child pornography? There are people who advertise the misinformation "Child pornography is not illegal in Japan." It is. Anyone selling or producing child pornography in Japan will be sent to jail.
http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/national/news/CK2014030602000237.html
Tokyo shinbun also reports the same release by the police. The breakdown of the 21603 cases is,
Psychological abuse 12,344 (57.1%) Physical abuse 6,150 (28.4%) Neglect 2,960 (13.7%)
It reports, of the 12,344 psychological abuse cases, majority (8,059 cases) are "violence against spouse in front of a child". It also reports the number of children killed as a result of abuse was record low.
I think the large increase in number of child abuse is more of expanding definition.
Boy Next Door
What else is new? The numbers keep rising as the years go by.
lostrune2
Not in creating porn, but in hosting porn sites.
nath
Why do they even allow this to be online? Seriously. And with groups like AKB48 and so many other pedophilia adds and magazines, they are pretty much throwing it in peoples faces. Like reckless says, I would cut it off completely. but i guess the money made from some of these CEOs is difficult to pass up.
gaihonjin
Been saying this since AKB came out: there is something very wrong going on here with the mass fetishism of underage girls.
Alex80
"Creation of porn online" is the expression used also in the article. Hosting porn sites is creation of porn on line.
Double standards here. And what about this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4
Men are obsessed over underage girls worldwide, This is the sad truth.
lostrune2
The graphic says: "Top 10 Countries where porn websites are hosted"
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/global-porn-map-590x620.jpg
Porn can be created anywhere, then uploaded to hosts some place else.
HB714
@ Alex80&CH3CHO- Google it yourself , I recommend using the key words (problems with Japanese porn).. Plenty of articles there to further prove my previous post .. I'm sure u can find even more related material by using the key words ( (Japan and child pornography).. Not about to put the last two key words in my own browser but hey go right ahead knock yourselves out.. I have a feeling though neither of u will accept any info contrary to what u believe to be true, judging from the way u go back and forth with others on any topic that puts Japan in a negative light!!
Alex80
Why aren't those sites closed? Maybe this is the answer:
Source: http://www.asasec.eu/project.php?lang=en
@HB714: you seem being in denial about the US, only post a link to support what you say if you want people believe you.
HB714
Facts are facts and trust me judging by the thread plenty of people do believe it cuz it is a fact!! Like I said I could post a million links but the both of u have selective comprehension when it comes to all issues In Japan.. The " but but America " argument is hilarious as its nowhere near the top of the child pornography list and u know it..I got better things to do with my time than go back and forth with the two of u.. The first step to solving a problem is admitting u have a problem( Japan and child pornography)..Japan creates it and other nations share it.. Hmm I've always believed it best to go after the root of the problem.. I'm out!!
James Dean Jnr.
If an 18 year old boy takes indecent pictures of his 17 year old girlfriend, WITH her consent, it is illegal, full stop. But it doesn't seem as sick as saying child porn now does it? I believe many of these cases are underaged kids, 15 -17 exploring their sexuality without even realising that it is illegal.
AkariYoshida
This is horrible. Even one account is too much, and this is only the accounts reported not even the total amount