Majority tolerant of physical discipline on children: NGO survey

February 16, 2018

Tokyo- A majority of Japanese people are tolerant of physically disciplining children, according to a recent survey by nongovernmental organization Save the Children Japan.

Of 20,000 respondents aged 20 or older in the online survey last July, 56.7 pct took a tolerant attitude toward physical discipline, including 1.2 pct who said it should be "actively imposed," according to the survey report, released on Thursday.

The rest of the respondent group said physical punishment can be accepted "if necessary" or "when there is no other way."

Meanwhile, of 1,030 respondents with children, 70.1 pct said they have hit their children for disciplinary purposes.

"Physical punishment is banned at school, but not at home and other places," a Save the Children Japan official said. The NGO is calling for scrapping the parental right of discipline under the Civil Code.

According to the health ministry, there are research results indicating that harsh physical punishment may shrink the emotional brain region by nearly 20 pct and that verbal abuse may distort the auditory area.

Also in the survey, 60 percent of the 20,000 respondents said hitting children is acceptable as a way of discipline. Hitting children in their hips or the back of their hands was even supported by 40 pct of respondents opposing physical discipline.

Nearly 60 percent and 50 percent of the total said they would tolerate raising voice at children and glaring at them, respectively.

Of the 1,030 respondents with children, 80 percent said they have been irritated by their children's behavior, and 60 percent said they have felt difficulties raising children while working. Jiji Press