The central government is taking emergency steps to boost the number of child welfare workers by 60 percent within five years, spurred by the death of a child whose handwritten notes seeking forgiveness from her abusive parents have shaken Japan.
The death in March of the 5-year-old girl, Yua Funato, was "soul-crushing," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said of the case that has exposed shortcomings in child welfare services long targeted by critics.
"Mama, I will make myself do much, much better tomorrow than I did today, without being told by Papa and Mama, so please forgive me, please, I beg you, forgive me," Yua pleaded in a notebook used for writing drills forced on her by her stepfather, who also kicked and beat her.