Local News

The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has asked municipalities nationwide to visit the homes of all families with infants in their jurisdiction to check for possible cases of child abuse. A survey by the Nishinippon Shimbun found that in Kyushu, 52 of the municipalities, or 22%, have not visited households at all. The rate of municipalities in Kyushu that have visited all subject households is 78%, which is below the national average of 84%. Many of these municipalities say they are conducting visits, but are unable to visit all homes for several reasons, including refusal by the parents. Municipal officials in Saga and Nagasaki prefectures have conducted all the visits, while 18 in Kagoshima Prefecture and 12 in Fukuoka Prefecture have conducted no visits at all.