TOKYO -- A 21-year-old man, attending a university in Tokyo and studying to become a social worker, asked for protection from police officers who arrived at his home when he was 16 years old.

While Naoto was sleeping, his mother poured boiling water from a pot on him and scalded him. Currently, while attending university, he is involved in support activities for young people who have suffered emotionally and physically from abuse. He is motivated by his desire to "reduce the number of people like me."

'Young carer' at age 9

Naoto's harsh life had already begun in his childhood. He was the second of three siblings, but all three had different fathers. When his younger brother was born, his father disappeared and his mother was bedridden with cancer. Naoto, who was 9 years old at the time, had the heavy responsibility of feeding his younger brother and giving him a bath. Inevitably, he was away from elementary school.

Today we would recognize him as a "young carer" who provides nursing care and other help for family members, but at the time there was no one who was concerned about him.

When he was living at his mother's parents' home, his older brother was repeatedly abused by an uncle who visited there. The older brother then cut Naoto with a cutter and sexually abused him. It was a chain of abuse. When his mother with alcoholism recovered from cancer, she drank more and violently attacked him when she was drunk.

Finally found a place to belong

When Naoto became a junior high school student, he made friends. He met them through online games that he played on his mother's hand-me-down smartphone. They were of the same generation as Naoto, and like him, they were absent from school or withdrawn from the community. Even though his situation had not improved in any way, he felt saved. His mother became violent every time she got drunk, but he did not seek protection from child guidance centers or other agencies. The risk of more violence seemed greater.

Furthermore, a police officer whom Naoto was acquainted with because his older brother often had incidents in which the police intervened explained to him that the temporary shelter of the child guidance center, which children would enter on an emergency basis, was "like a prison or a juvenile reformatory." Therefore, he thought that once there, he would not be able to use his cell phone. This also meant that he would not be able to play games, that is, he would lose his only place where he belongs.

However, the situation changed when his mother poured boiling water on him. His younger brother called the police and Naoto asked for protection. Naoto recalled, "If I hadn't asked for protection, I might have been a shut-in even now."

After having been placed in a temporary shelter, he entered an independent assistance home where children who had completed compulsory education resided. He had no intention of going to high school or university, but the staff recommended that he go on to higher education because "it would be advantageous for finding a job," so he studied at a local free cram school and went on to a correspondence high school. He graduated at the age of 20 while working part-time.

He had experience using a program for young people who had been living under publicly responsible social care and protection systems, such as children's homes and foster families, to interact with each other. Talking with other youths and learning about the various types of support available expanded his world.

Society that reaches out to those in need

On Nov. 1, when child abuse prevention month designated by the welfare ministry began, Naoto was participating in a street fundraising event held in front of JR Shinjuku Station. This is part of the activities of the "youth support fund," which provides grants to organizations that support young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

This street fundraiser was the first of its kind, and was the brainchild of Naoto. His desire was not only to collect donations, but also to let people know that there are many children who cannot rely on their parents and that there are adults who support these children.

He told the Mainichi Shimbun, "I want to create a society where people can reach out to anyone in need around them."

Helping with support group activities

In fiscal 2022, child guidance centers nationwide received 214,843 consultations regarding child abuse. Meanwhile, there are approximately 42,000 children in social care and protection systems, of which about 23,000 live in children's homes.

In April of this year, the revised Child Welfare Act came into effect, removing the age limit of 18 years old in principle (maximum 22 years old) for supporting the independence of young people growing up in children's homes and other such facilities.

Shugo Ikemoto, executive director of the "metropolitan area youth support network," which operates the youth support fund, pointed out that "there are regional differences, with some municipalities not taking action even though the age limit has been lifted, claiming that there is no such demand." He also noted that there are some cases that cannot be handled by the existing systems and said, "We would like to use the funds to raise the level of activities for support groups."

(Japanese original by Eri Misono, Digital News Group)