The recent death of a 14-year-old boy in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, who attempted suicide two years ago after he unsuccessfully pleaded for shelter from alleged abuse by his parents points yet again to holes in the nation's system to protect such victims. If the city's child welfare authorities cannot be blamed for failing to protect the boy, then the system needs to be amended to make sure that abused children will get the protection they need. The government's move to beef up the power and functions of child consultation centers nationwide may be a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.
The boy, who died in February after being comatose since he tried to kill himself by hanging in November 2014, had repeatedly asked the city's authorities for protection from his parents since signs of his abuse came to light in fall 2013. His elementary school alerted Sagamihara authorities that the boy suffered bruises on his face, and the local child consultation center investigated the incident as a case of suspected abuse by his parents. City officials interviewed the boy and the parents, with the boy repeatedly pleading for shelter — saying he was "scared of going home."
In May 2014, the boy ran into a convenience store near his home late one night, alleging violence by his parents and asking for help, and was taken into protective custody by the police. The child consultation center began interview sessions with the boy and the parents, but the center reportedly did not consider the boy's case serious on the grounds that his relations with the parents appeared to be improving. The boy told workers at the center that he wanted to stay at a child welfare facility. The center tried to persuade the parents into agreeing to temporarily relinquish custody of the boy, but the parents declined. The center did not exercise its legal power to take the boy into care without the parents' consent.