Comments on: Child abuse sometimes necessary, say three in four Japanese

By: VsevolodKrolikov

VsevolodKrolikov — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 02:05:31 +0000

I think the discussion of this survey reveals one of the central risks of foreigners talking about Japan: a lack of awareness about their own country. In the UK a 2008 survey revealed that 70% of parents had smacked their children, while in the US a recent poll showed two thirds saying that spanking was justified in some circumstances. It’s actually not that different.

These figures in all three countries are depressingly high, in my opinion. And of course, if you’re settled in Japan, these numbers are your business to complain about, whether you’re native-born or not.

I love this site, by the way. Keep it up!

By: Child abuse in Japan: one in three may look the other way | 世論 What Japan Thinks

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:04:38 +0000

[...] up on a recent survey on hitting children, iShare looked this time at reporting suspected abuse, with an interesting breakdown by kind of [...]

By: La web de Maco048. Noticias » Según tres de casa cuatro japoneses, el maltrato infantil a veces es necesario

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:56:34 +0000

[...] Fuente: ?? What Japan Thinks [...]

By: interesting links | Sinocentric

interesting links | Sinocentric — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:59:05 +0000

[...] attitudes towards smacking [...]

By: Piglet

Piglet — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 04:52:32 +0000

Whether it is a slap on the wrist, on the top of the head or a punch, it is definitely inappropriate for a teacher to use any form of physical punishment. I am all in favor of teachers authority and some form of punishment for bad behavior (including additional work) but if I learn my son has been touched by his teacher, I will definitely make sure the teacher gets in real trouble with his administration.

By: Natem

Natem — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 22:36:14 +0000

The survey isn’t about punching. It’s about any kind of striking. The survey is not especially biased, but the translation and presentation are.

“Beat”, for example, is an inappropriate translation of “叩く”, which is, in my experience, a softer euphamism for “殴る”, the general word for hit. The words “punch” and “child abuse” are not translated, they are strictly a part of the author’s commentary.
I think the author is to blame for the “false impression” that literally every commentator so far has shown.

The word in the question “殴る” covers all sort of hitting… but very, very few people would imagine the survey question to be asking about punching a kid.
And lastly, what I was trying to imply below with the “American model” was the old fashioned spanking on the butt that was done repeatedly and until the child cried, with the physical pain itself as the punishment. That is almost certainly beyond the pale for most Japanese people.

By: anon

anon — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:10:21 +0000

Punching kids with a closed fist is serious beating – although also slapping can be an abuse depending on the force involved and if the kids are being hit on the cheeks or the sides of the head.
It’s difficult to call this survey biased when the numbers speak for themselves.

By: Ken Y-N

Ken Y-N — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:44:08 +0000

NateM, thank you! Yes, the image was of a “noogie”, a twisted knuckle to the top of the head, but never having had one as a child I cannot say how it compares to a slap. However, I would certainly not expect a teacher to do that to a pupil.

I’m not really sure what you’re getting at with the ‘the US model of “hitting kids” to deliberately inflict pain’, though.

Finally, touche – yes, that’s very true!

By: Ken Y-N

Ken Y-N — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:38:17 +0000

JD, Erin, guilty as charged! I felt, though, that the survey was specifically about closed fists, not open-handed slaps. As you say, Erin, I agree that an occasional smack within a family situation is not child abuse, but if it was about smacking I think the survey would have been specific about that being the issue.

By: NateM

NateM — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:03:52 +0000

Of course you’re being inflammatory, and that’s cool. It’s how people advocate their position on the Internet, and conflating “殴る” with “虐待” might just get you some buzz from 2ch. I just wish English-speakers weren’t so credulous about every damned thing about Japan written on the internet.

In Japan’s defense: The image accompanying the article shows a kid getting bopped on the top of the head. I’m pretty sure that most Japanese people have a bop on the head or a literal “slap on the wrist” in mind when they speak of “hitting children”. Not face-slapping, not spanking and certainly not “punching”. I don’t think so many people would be in favor of the US model of “hitting kids” to deliberately inflict pain.

In a related story, many Japanese are shocked to learn that fewer than 10% of Americans maintain basic sanitation in their homes (i.e. take off their shoes before entering).