Neon signs in Kabukicho, a “red light” district in Shinjuko, Tokyo, Author Basile Morin (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
Domestic violence is not solely a Western phenomenon. As of June 2017, there were 72,455 cases reported in Japan [1A]. That set a new record. However, only 2.2% of the victims of spousal abuse there actually contact police.
A Private Matter
Japanese law does allow courts to issue restraining orders [2]. However, domestic violence is largely viewed as a private matter.
In one survey, 58.2% of the 650 victims injured did not feel their problem warranted police help [1B]. Another 34.3% did not seek police intervention because they believed themselves partly at fault, while 22.3% felt police intervention would be pointless. Many did not recognize that they had been victimized. Continue reading
