For years, Masaru Suzuki used threats and physical violence to control his wife. Whenever he did not get his way, he lashed out at her verbally or with hands that were all too ready to strike.

Suzuki is one of the thousands of domestic-violence perpetrators in Japan.

Be it inside the home or in public, Suzuki said he screamed at his wife if she did not act according to his wishes. If she became hysterical, he grabbed her by her arms and shook her.