Conclusion: Prevention and Intervention of Family Violence in Japan

Abstract

How much is known by the global society about family violence in Japan is uncertain. This anthology, Family Violence in Japan: A Life Course Perspective, is an attempt to alleviate that situation. Although there have been many studies of different types of family violence in Japan, such as child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence, this study attempts to look at them together, to see, for instance, whether abuse as a child results in abuse later in life. It tests whether violence is a learned response to family stress.

Seven major sociocultural characteristics, which may induce or suppress family violence in Japan, were identified. They are the vertical social structure, the patriarchal-hierarchal family structure, group orientation, interdependence in human relations, Giri-Ninjyo, the “mind-to-mind” Japanese style of communication, and regional variations within Japan. Although these seven characteristics are not measured scientifically, four authors discussing different type of family violence made deliberate efforts to apply them in their analyses of family violence. For the Western audience, not familiar with Japanese sociocultural characteristics, this discussion will hopefully be most informative and appreciated by the global society.

The organization of the anthology is as follows:

Chapter 1::

Introduction: Toward a Better Understanding of Family Violence in Japan (by Fumie Kumagai)

Child Abuse: History and Current State in Japan (by Masako Ishii-Kuntz)

Intimate Partner Violence: Domestic Violence as a Japanese Perspective (by Takayo Sasaki and Masako Ishii-Kuntz)

Filial Violence: An Unrevealed Problem for Decades (by Rie Okamura)

Elder Abuse and Family Transformation (by Yoko Hayashi)

Conclusion: Prevention and Intervention of Family Violence in Japan (by Fumie Kumagai)

Discussion carried out in this concluding chapter is based on the following four major points:

• A summary is given concerning the major findings, implications, and limitations of family violence studied in the book, namely, child abuse (kodomo gyakutai), intimate partner violence (tsuma gyakutai/DV), filial violence (oya gyakutai), and elder abuse (koreisha gyakutai).

• The chapter discusses the unresolved issues of family violence studies in Japan. They are the methodological problem of sampling and measurement needed for comprehensive studies, and the significance of regional variations. Although the concept of regional variations was not applied to any significant degree in this study, it is hoped that this drawback could be alleviated in future studies on the topic.

• The chapter emphasizes the importance of studying family violence through a life course perspective. This book would be, in fact, a pioneer attempt in Japan to look at various types of violence in Japanese families incorporating historical developments of individuals and intergenerational factors simultaneously.

• Finally, with all this information in hand, the concluding chapter discusses the possible prevention of family violence in Japan, with proposals for intervention.

Now that we have a proper knowledge of family violence in Japan, it is hoped that not only academics but also the general public may go forward to alleviate family violence, one of the most critical issues in global society. The authors strongly hope that Japan’s quest for the prevention of family violence, with tools to intervene, may begin a process of sharing knowledge with other societies on the study of family violence.