Bullying in Japan

This article highlights the problem of an increasing number of bullying cases in Japan. Bullying in public and private schools from elementary to high school grades has increased “31 percent” from 2017. Individuals who took their lives due to bullying increased by 82 lives. The article goes on to discuss how not only students are being bullied, but also their teachers are being bullied by other teachers. The real importance of the story is to expose the system in which bullying is dealt with in Japan. If the teachers who are supposed to be protecting students cannot protect themselves from being bullied, then something needs to change. There needs to be more protection of students from bullies. In the digital world today, bullying is increasing in popularity because it’s easier to do. Bullying can take many shapes, sizes, and forms. This is not only prevalent in Japan, but also in the United States and in other countries. In the United States, “the 2017 School Crime Supplement (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 20% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying.”

With Japan’s decreasing population, it would be wise to put in some more legislation or make a more protective system for students. It was interesting to read that not only are middle school and high school students getting bullied, but also teachers by other teachers. I feel like in the United States some teachers at schools are also bullied by other co-workers.