Category: Children

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 18, 2025 1
Children Education Health Medical

School Health Checkups in Japan Still Cause Trouble with Parents

School doctors in Japan still have to take the risk of facing complaints from parents about their children’s body parts being exposed during regular health checkups although the education ministry took measures to soothe such parental anxiety over a year ago. According to a survey conducted in June by online medical information provider m3.com, more than 80 pct of the 1,970 responding practitioners and physicians did not want to become school doctors chiefly out of concern that parents “more than necessary” tend not to allow their children’s bodies to be shown to the doctors.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 12, 2025 Number of comments0
Children Health Japan

Children with Tooth Cavities at Record Low in Japan, Eyesight Continues to Deteriorate

The proportion of children with tooth cavities in Japan hit a record low in fiscal 2024, apparently reflecting advice on tooth brushing and other related initiatives at schools, a survey by the health ministry showed Wednesday. Meanwhile, children’s vision continued to deteriorate. The proportion of children whose vision was less than 20/20 stood at 36.84 pct at elementary schools, 60.61 pct at junior high schools and 71.06 pct at high schools, all the highest on record except for fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2023, when the survey period was different.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 30, 2025 Number of comments0
Children Disability Japan Mental Health

Suicides among school children in Japan at highest level since 1980, overall figure declines for second consecutive year

Elementary, junior high and high school students accounted for 527 of those completing suicide, the highest level since records began in 1980, with the number staying above 500 for the third straight year. Of them, a record 163 junior high school students killed themselves.

The number of people who killed themselves in Japan fell to 20,268 in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of decline and the second-lowest level after 20,169 in 2019, the health ministry said Wednesday.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 18, 2025 Number of comments0
Children Japan Nursing Care

Ex-Nursery Worker Ruled Not Guilty over Girl’s Death in 2017

A Japanese district court Thursday found a former worker of a nursery school not guilty of assaulting and killing a 1-year-old girl in 2017.
Judge Takeshi Okuyama, who presided over the lay-judge trial at Yokohama District Court in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, issued the ruling, rejecting the prosecution’s demand for a 10-year prison term for the former worker.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 13, 2025 Number of comments0
Care Children Day Care Service Disability Japan Podcast

Japan’s parents of children with disabilities face “18-year-old wall”, forced to quit jobs to care for children [Podcast Episode]

The Association of Parents Who Work While Raising Children with Disabilities and Children with Medical Care held a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on December 17, 2024. When children turn 18 and graduate from special-needs schools, they can no longer receive after-school day care services, which are available until around 6 pm. The majority of these services end around 3:00 p.m., forcing parents to leave their jobs to watch over and care for their children. Some parents refer to this the “18-year-old barrier”.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Children Crime Japan

Arrested man faces murder charge over Japan McDonald’s stabbings

A 43-year-old man arrested over the stabbing of a boy at a McDonald’s restaurant in southwestern Japan last month was newly charged on Thursday 9th January with the murder of a 15-year-old girl who was also a victim of the attack, police said. The arrested man told the police he targeted the pair for a specific reason, and the attacks were not random, adding that the victims are “not at fault.”