Japan reports rise in child abuse deaths to 77 in fiscal 2024

The number of children who died from abuse in Japan rose to 77 in fiscal 2024, an increase of 12 from the previous year, according to an expert panel of the Children and Families Agency.

Excluding cases of family suicide, the total number of deaths was 50. Approximately 70 percent of these victims were infants under one year old, including 34 children. Notably, 17 of these infants died within 24 hours of birth. The panel identified that in many of these cases, biological mothers were isolated and lacked access to necessary support services.

Among the non-suicide cases, the largest group involved 22 children abused primarily by their biological mothers. Other causes included physical abuse and neglect. In response, the Children and Families Agency is working to promote consultation services for expectant mothers and improve access to regional support through dedicated websites and 24-hour consultation availability.