national

'Bully insurance' now on the increase

18 Comments
By Dale Roll, SoraNews24

Bullying is a serious problem in Japan, with the amount of reported incidents increasing by more than 91,000 in 2017 alone. Sadly, the problem doesn’t seem to have a solution on the horizon, as schools are often slow or even unwilling to resolve issues, which leaves many children in the dust.

One of the most popular ways for children to bully each other nowadays is over the Internet. Students use forums, the messaging app Line, and Twitter to post rumors about their classmates, share their private affairs without their permission, and speak ill of each other. This behavior is steadily increasing, and with the advancement of technology, kids are getting better and better at it, and more and more malicious.

That’s why this year, Japanese insurance company Yell has started offering bully insurance, to help offset the potential legal costs that could result from bullying. The insurance plan costs just 2,640 yen per month, and hundreds of concerned parents have already signed up.

The primary objective of the policy seems to be legal insurance. Those who join a bully insurance plan will have access to a free initial consultation with a lawyer when an issue arises, as well as a free telephone consultation service and support in finding a lawyer. The company can also help mitigate any damage claims against the school or the offender, and will reimburse up to 70 percent of any fees paid to the lawyer.

The insurance will also cover the medical fees associated with an injury, either incurred or perpetrated, by your child during an incident of bullying, as well as provide compensation for broken or destroyed property. Plus, the service can also assist with divorce, sexual and power harassment in the workplace, disputes in the neighborhood, and contract disputes, so for many parents, it could be very useful. As long as someone has children under the age of 18 years old in their family, they can sign up.

Though this isn’t the first insurance policy to offer compensation for bullying, this particular plan was born from a desire to be able to use a lawyer to resolve bullying issues, and so became the first “bully insurance” offered in Japan. But with so many practical uses at such a small price, it’s no wonder that the policy has become popular since its release in May. Knowing a lawyer is just a phone call away must provide an invaluable peace of mind for parents, who constantly worry about their children.

Source: Naver Matome

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Japanese company offers insurance plan to protect against false train groping accusations

-- Sompo Japan offers nation’s first online flaming insurance

-- Japan: Guilty Until Proven Innocent documentary shines light on controversial legal system【Video】

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
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This world is insane. It's lawyers and band aid on bruises that solve bullying ? If they were serious, parents would invest in adequate education (empathy and respect... sorry to sound alt-modish) and mental health care.

 As long as someone has children under the age of 18 years old in their family, they can sign up.

Then at 18, the problem disappears ?

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Bullying is bullying whether in person or online and kids should be told to call the police and report it. The police should take this seriously because a life may depend on it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Ridiculous

1 ( +3 / -2 )

This world is insane. It's lawyers and band aid on bruises that solve bullying ? If they were serious, parents would invest in adequate education (empathy and respect... sorry to sound alt-modish) and mental health care.

You're asking for Jaoanese people to abandon the all powerful sempai/kouhai nonsense.

We get these types of articles and the Japanese still scratch their head in befuddlement as to why so few people are having children.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

From the article it seem the internet is the problem. Just cut or restrict access to social media sites for under 18s. Problem solved!

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Do they even teach parents, teachers and children what bullying is in all its forms?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Bullying in all its forms has been going on since the dawn of human history, from mild name calling amongst school kids to world wars. The problem is our selfish hearts. Bandaid solutions like this might be some sort of help but won't cure the cancer.

As long as there are humans we'll have bullying. But we can make sure that we personally are not the instigators. And with us striving to be good examples we, and the school trachers can teach our children to live peaceably with others. I think that's the best thing we can do, and it's well worth the effort.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Surprised it took the insurance companies this long to cash in on bullying. The schools have always been lazy about stopping children from bullying other children. Maybe if the school administrators could make money stopping bullying we would have no more of it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Money making scam. How to stop bullying? Open communication between parents and children. If thenchild can feel like they can discuss anything with a parent or go to their mum or dad for support the problem is significantly reduced or even nullified.

That, or the kid being bullied beats the bully so bad they'll never even dream of bullying anyone ever again.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is the insurance for the perpetrator or the victim?

Reading the article, I wasn’t really sure...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

While I appreciate the call to action I don't think it's the job of the police to get involved in the case of schoolkids bullying unless perhaps in the case of violence amongst high schoolers.

The vast majority of cases should be dealt with by parents and educators.

Workplace bullying ought to be dealt with within the company or by the courts if very serious.

Bullying is bullying whether in person or online and kids should be told to call the police and report it. The police should take this seriously because a life may depend on it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Once again cashing in on someone elses pain. After we pay life insurance, pension insurance, education insurance, auto insurance this adds up to over ¥100,000 a month. How about PROPERLY raising kids instead of digging into the money pot for comfort. I won't buy this insurance. I will use my own insurance. It is called visiting the parents, and the School. I am not some calm japanese person. I will get my American point across. You can bet that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

2600 yen a month is not a "just". 200 yen might be, but 2600 yen is not.

The word ijime in Japanese includes teasing as well as bullying, so do not always assume it means the same as bullying. Some of the most damaging ijime is passive-aggressive psychological attacks, exclusion from the group, silent treatment, gaslighting etc., which again might not be what you'd imagine if ijime has been translated as "bullying" without further context.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Scenario:  At school 'A' bullies 'B' and B's parents call the police.  Police go to the school, where the principal and his/her little peeps all deny any such thing is happening at their school.  The police (read: useless tax thieves) are satisfied and the school avoids having to report to the gov't there is any bullying at the school, thus avoiding having any of their gov't subsidies cut (a main goal of schools).

Schools in Japan need to implement an educational skit in all schools that depicts the r-e-a-l-i-t-y of bullying.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A very good idea. Legal costs are what usually stop people from pursuing legal action.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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