I've been reading about this a lot and honestly, it's super upsetting. Child abuse in Japan hit a record high in 2024, and it seems like the problem keeps getting worse, not better. One thing I've noticed from articles and what people are saying online is that Japan has been slow to update how it deals with child welfare. Some families are super private, and sometimes social services step in too late.

Also, I think the pressure on parents is insane there, with work and school stress. A lot of parents don’t really have good support systems, so if they freak out, it's the kids who end up suffering. In my experience, whenever I see news about this, there’s always some story about teachers or neighbors missing obvious signs. Honestly, it feels like nobody wants to get involved, which is so frustrating.

I read that the government says they're adding more counselors, but change is really slow. If Japan could make it easier for people to ask for help and educate everyone more about child safety, I think things could improve. But right now, it’s definitely not great if you’re a kid in a rough situation there.

Hang in there and don’t be afraid to speak up about things like this! Someone has to.