Kitanaka, who represents the group, said victims are already facing difficulty communicating their problems during the pandemic as many consultation centers run by local governments are canceling face-to-face counseling sessions. The group is calling on the government to avoid shutting down or curtailing domestic violence and child abuse consultation services throughout the quarantine period, and to provide more information on where to find support. To highlight the growing problem, the All Japan Women’s Shelter Network, an organization that provides care and assistance to domestic abuse survivors, issued a letter to the government requesting greater support for victims. “Compared with the average monthly figure, that’s quite a lot,” the official said of the March number, while explaining that many of the reports came from people who had already sought help on previous occasions. Last year, monthly reports hovered between single digits and a maximum of around 25. Interviewed by telephone, Kitanaka warned that Japan may be in for a disturbing rise in domestic violence incidents.Īn official from one of Tokyo’s 23 wards who oversees operations at a local consultation center for domestic violence survivors said they received 23 calls for help in March. “I’ve been informed that such incidents have begun to surface,” said Chisato Kitanaka, an associate professor at Hiroshima University and a specialist in sexual harassment issues. Time spent with family members may lead to increased acts of violence - physical, sexual or emotional - against a spouse or other relative. Parents in Japan worry as kids head back to school in virus pandemicįor some families, more time together isn’t necessarily beneficial. Domestic violence cases in Japan reached new high in 2019Ībe unveils 'massive' coronavirus stimulus worth 20% of GDP