Child Protection Agencies in Japan?

Question

Where can I go to report a male member of staff at the school where I work (in Japan) for sleeping with a 15 year old. He is in his 30s.

The school wants to cover this up because its embarrassing for them, Im shocked they wont call the police and have blamed the girl!!

I cant speak Japanese well, so I need to contacts who speak English.

I've been in Japan for a number of years, but this is the first time I've no idea where to go.

I have heard of this sort of thing going on, but never did I imagine it would happen in a school where I worked.

Answer 1

♡You can contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare or Child Consultation Centers in Japan or near you. They should be able to take your report about the incident. Check the city you live in for the 'Child Consultation Center'. If you're not sure, go to/call your city office and ask them for the information, they will give you all the contact info you need. (If you worry about not speaking Japanese, go to the counter where you applied for and got your alien registration card, they should be able to understand you better.) ☆Basically, bringing it to the attention of the head of the school should have taken care of it. If they have not, or refuse to do so, it may be for a reason. You say you can't speak Japanese well, did you get all the details? Many times getting the parents and the child involved to press any charges is just impossible. ☆Important point, they may ask you if you were 'witness' to the report you are making, which will make all the difference!☆ I commend you for trying to help and I wish you the best of luck. I also suggest that since you have been in Japan a number of years now, that you have a friend available to translate what you say and what is said. You may need this done a few times after you proceed to make a report. Best of luck.♡

Answer 2

Try contacting the American Consulate there; perhaps they can assist you. You will definitely have people who speak English, are bilingual, and being a government agency, they should know what the equivalent to the CPA is in Japan, and may even have good relations with them.

You may also want to look online for international organizations that deal with child abuse and/or child porn and prostitution. Even though this is slightly different, they deal with Asian countries and may have some suggestions for dealing with the local agencies in Japan.

I do understand what you mean about the "cover up" with the school officials and your frustration at this injustice. I worked in Japan many years ago, and saw how "saving face" is more important than telling the truth. Vile actions, and the people who commit them, are overlooked, ignored, and basically left undisturbed or intact in order to keep up the facade of respectabilty. How can THAT be "honorable"?

I wish you well in this, a truly honorable endeavor. Do not give up, no matter what! Know they will ignore you or try to discredit your information, but please, do not give up: this young victim needs your help! What's really sad is, you know there are more like her. God bless you for your caring and courage! Good luck!

Answer 3

Sadly, that's par for the course. The police are unlikely to get involved unless the girl or her parents make a complaint. They'll just tell you to mind your own business-and they may have a point. The age of consent in Japan is 13, so if no money changed hands and it was consensual the law may have no recourse. I think he should be fired at least, but if you make a fuss you are just an expendable gaijin and you will be the fired one. It sucks, but that's just how it is.

Answer 4

I beleive that the age of consent in Japan is 15 years old. I think that it should not be but who are we as non Japanese to tell their government that it is wrong when many other countries age of concent is as low or even lower. I would do some checking up on it before you do anything just in case.

Answer 5

Call 110(police) and ask the person whether there is anyone who speak English.

But you need to grab exact evidence. If not, you will be sued or fired easily.

Reporting that fact to the media (TV station) could be efficient.
You ask you Japanese friend to find TV station's website and submit in English. there must be someone who can read English.

Answer 6

I would try calling the closest US military base. Most bases have an operator and you can ask for the phone number to the legal department. I think they will help you. If that doesn't work, the embassy MAY help, but they're probably understaffed (I had to process my wife through there, and had to wait all day to do some simple paperwork).

Answer 7

119 is the emergencey number in Japan. If you dial that, maybe they can find an English speaker for you.

Those little police boxes are everywhere, so you could just go there too.

Answer 8

That kind of nonsense happens a lot and it just goes unreported.
I would just forget about it. As long as it wasn't rape.