The reality of child abuse is far harsher than most people imagin In fiscal 2024, child consultation centers across Japan handled 223,691 child abuse cases, the highest number ever recorded. Meanwhile, there were only 6,481 child welfare officers responsible for abuse consultations, investigations, and interventions, and 2,912 child psychologists providing psychological support (Children and Families Agency survey, April 2024)—fewer than 10,000 specialists combined. A simple calculation suggests that each child welfare officer or psychologist is responsible for about 23 cases. In reality, however, they also carry over existing cases requiring ongoing supervision, meaning their actual workloads are significantly heavier. Following the troubles involving former Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe discussed in Part 1, testimonies gathered through interviews reveal the harsh realities of child abuse. “I currently handle 170 cases, and I get home after midnight almost every day. Parents pretending not to be home during visits or hurling abuse at us is routine. Some even hint at their criminal records and threaten us, saying, ‘You won’t get away with this.'” The speaker is Keita Yasuda (pseudonym, 31), who works at a child consultation center in the Kansai region. Yasuda studied sociology in college and originally worked as a general administrative employee, but three years ago he was reassigned due to staffing shortages at child consultation centers. After completing one year of field experience and obtaining certification as a child welfare officer, he says he has faced relentless physical and emotional strain ever since. “Because I didn’t originally have specialized training, the reality of child abuse was far harsher than I had imagined. I’ve rescued infants covered in their own waste from garbage-filled homes. I’ve seen toddlers with multiple broken bones throughout their bodies, including ankles bent in the wrong direction. Staff members themselves can be in danger. One female employee had kerosene poured on her by a parent and was nearly set on fire.” When conducting potentially dangerous home inspections, staff wear stab-resistant vests. Unlike police officers, however, they are not allowed to carry weapons. For that reason, the government has increasingly encouraged cooperation with police, who possess enforcement powers, and lawyers, who provide legal expertise.