TOKYO -- The metropolitan government's child welfare council, upon reviewing agencies' response over a couple suspected of fatally poisoning their 4-year-old daughter, has said the local child guidance center and ward government should have investigated further after reports of injuries on the girl raised suspicions of abuse.

Yoshiki Hosoya of the capital's Taito Ward died in March 2023 after her parents allegedly made her consume one or more toxic substances contained in antifreeze additives. The parents were later arrested. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has put the parents' disposition on hold regarding the case, and investigations are ongoing.

According to the report released by the child welfare council on Jan. 28, Yoshiki was temporarily taken in by the Tokyo Metropolitan Child Guidance Center in March 2019, but was returned to her family after about six months.

During the roughly six months before her death, the ward's children and family support center received five reports from Yoshiki's day care facility about scratches and bruises on her body.

However, the Taito Ward Government only made a phone call to Yoshiki's father for confirmation, and without visiting her home, decided that it did not constitute abuse. The child guidance center was also verbally informed by the ward, but did not conduct its own investigation.

The council criticized Taito Ward's response, stating that "the outreach to the family was insufficient," and emphasized that they should have verified the facts and reassessed the situation by coming into direct contact with the family via home visits and other methods.

The council urged the metropolitan child guidance center to take preventive measures, stating, "When a high risk is determined, it is essential to hold working-level meetings to consider the matter, including the possibility of the child guidance center becoming the main body in charge of the case."

The report also pointed out that Yoshiki's day care facility was aware of signs of neglect such as smelly diapers, but failed to keep the ward government updated. It demanded improvements, calling for "renewed understanding that neglect and psychological abuse include highly urgent cases."

(Japanese original by Ayumu Iwasaki and Kengo Suga, Tokyo City News Department)