Japanese on Edge After Two Children Are Murdered

On November 22, the strangled body of 7-year old Airi Kinoshita was found inside a taped-up box in a parking lot in Hiroshima. The killing resulted in a frantic flood of coverage in the Japanese media, and a Peruvian immigrant was arrested for the crime. The fact that the alleged murderer is an immigrant caused many to vocalize fears that the rising crime rate in Japan is due to increasing numbers of foreigners. On December 2, another 7-year old girl, Yuki Yoshida, was found stabbed to death in a forest northeast of Tokyo. So far no arrests have been made in the second murder.

During the last decade of economic uncertainties, the overall crime rate in Japan has steadily risen, but the most disturbing statistic is the increase in crimes against children. In 2001, a mentally ill man stabbed eight children at an elementary school near Osaka. Last year a 12-year old girl was slashed to death with a box-cutter during lunchtime, by an 11-year old friend. Over the past five years, the number of murders in Japan increased by 50%, with the number of crimes against children increasing by 2%. The number of all serious crimes has increased as well. In a country that has always taken pride in its image as a safe haven for children, the growing threats faced by children have put authorities on alert and frightened parents into keeping a closer eye on their children’s activities.

Japan is in the process of rethinking traditions that have existed for generations, such as letting young children walk long distances to school on their own or in small groups. The long walk to school has always been a rite of passage for children entering school for the first time. In rural areas the walk to school can take 30 minutes or longer. But parents today in Japan are less inclined to let their children out of their sight for that amount of time. "I would never let my son go out alone," said Naoko Ishibashi about her 5-year old son. "I like to have him around where I can keep an eye on him. These days, I feel worried when I see any child walking alone in the streets."

The threat has attracted the attention of high-ranking politicians and authorities, who are examining the routes children take to school and establishing "safe houses" in neighborhoods where kids can take shelter if they feel threatened. Armed police now patrol the main streets children take on the way to school, and young students are provided with safety maps, alarms they can use to call for help, and tracking devices. Teachers and police are warning students about talking to strangers and establishing cell phone networks to warn people in an area if a threat has been spotted there.

"Distressful and regrettable incidents have been occurring, and it's a problem that we need to take seriously," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said this week. "We need to strengthen cooperation between police, officials…and families." But some authorities think the efforts being made may not be enough. The most recent attacks have not taken place on school grounds or routes to school. Because of this, education officials, police, and parents have to work together to prevent crimes against children no matter where they may occur. Yet some feel a sense of helplessness in attempting to keep criminals away from young children. "Even if you are going home in a group, there will be a child in the end who will need to go home alone," said Masumi Takeuchi, the leader of the campaign in Hiroshima against crime targeted toward children. "Who will protect you in the end? It is not others, but only you that can protect yourself. This is the kind of awareness we need to develop."