The number of people arrested by police for abusing children in Japan in 2018 grew for the fifth consecutive year to a record high of 1,419, a white paper by the Justice Ministry shows. What can be done to deal with this problem?

encourage schools, neighbors, family relatives, friends, etc to report any potential signs of abuse to authorities. If you wait to see more visible and apparent signs of abuse, then it may be already too late. Encourage people to intervene, to override the desire to not become a bother but be a responsible concerned citizen instead. Japan needs more children than ever before and child abuses don't help that

First I would establish whether the increase is due to an actual increase in abuse or whether it's due to people being more up front about it. I have done some counselling in Japan and have come across many, many cases of abuse in childhood.

First I would establish whether the increase is due to an actual increase in abuse or whether it's due to people being more up front about it. 

That's a big unknown, Bertie. Let's hope it's the latter. Thanks for your counselling work.

Probably it's getting reported more than in the past,

due to the high-profile, horrific child abuse deaths that have occurred...

Education on what is the difference between abuse and discipline,

promoting secure communication between abused students and councillors in schools,

in tandem with social workers who act, might be helpful.

Anger management classes, and parenthood classes in high school,

might also help.