No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Isolated Together: Amplified vulnerabilities in Japan’s Children’s Homes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2025
Abstract
There are 608 “children’s homes” (児童養護施設 jidō yōgo shisetsu) across Japan that care for children and adolescents whose parents are unable to care for them (even though in many cases, their parents are known and still in contact with them). The causes for separation vary, including financial or psychological pressures, often taking the form of neglect or abuse. Institutionalization of any kind is always difficult for both children and their caretakers. Inside the children’s homes, the situation is difficult due to limited staff and tight budgets. The onset of COVID-19 has meant a dramatic decrease in the support services, staff, and resources that these institutions can provide, putting an already vulnerable population at added risk. Based on interviews with administrators at some of the leading nonprofits working with these children, this article lays out both the immediate difficulties within children’s homes during this difficult time, and the longer-term challenges they face in providing support for these young people.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Authors 2020
References
Ikueikai, Ashinaga. 2020. Scholarship Student Emergency Questionnaire for Mothers and Guardians, April 16.Google Scholar
Benkhart, Alexander, Program Staff at Kids Door. 2020. Zoom Interview and Email communication, May 14.Google Scholar
Bridge for Smile 2020. Report on the effect of corona crisis on people who have recently left Children’s homes, April 20.Google Scholar
Clemons, Michael, Founder of You Me We. 2020. Zoom Interview and Email communication, May 11.Google Scholar
Fukuyama, Tetsuro. 2020. Conversations with Watanabe Yumiko, Kids Door, and Tetsuro Fukuyama, Secretary-General of the Constitutional Democratic Party on the Educational Gap of Children in Corona, April 20.Google Scholar
Government of Japan, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MoHLW). 2018. “Results of a survey of children admitted to orphanages (data as of February 1, 2018),” Summary of Survey of children in childcare facilities, Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Social Support Bureau & Disability Health and Welfare Department, Children’s Family Bureau, Feb. 1.Google Scholar
Government of Japan, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MoHLW). 2016. “About social care facilities,” Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Social Support Bureau and Disability Health and Welfare Department, Children’s Family Bureau.Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch. 2017. Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child concerning Japan 79th pre-sessional working group, Nov. 14.Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch. 2014. Without Dreams: Children in Alternative Care in Japan, May 1.Google Scholar
Kawaguchi, Motoko, Executive Director of Hands on Tokyo (HOT). 2020. Zoom Interview, May 14.Google Scholar
Kids Door. 2020. April 28, 2020~May 16 2020, Covid-19 Support Package Recipient Survey, Shared by organization after interview.Google Scholar
Kids Door. 2020. Don’t lose to corona! Distribute the home study support pack to 10,000 children, May 9.Google Scholar
Koirala, Ashma, Program Director of Hands on Tokyo (HOT). 2020. Zoom interview, May 14.Google Scholar
Lights on Children. 2020. Tokyo orphanages struggle with online learning support-urgent questionnaire results, April 13.Google Scholar
Lights on Children. 2020. Responding to Rights-of-Children due to the spread of new coronavirus infection, May 1.Google Scholar
Oka, Kozue, Executive Director of Mirai no Mori. 2020. Zoom interview and email communications, May 11.Google Scholar
Uemura, Yurika, Communications Director of Bridge 4 Smile. 2020. Zoom interview and email communications, May 12.Google Scholar