When we think of Japan’s education system, we often imagine orderly classrooms and impeccably disciplined students. However, the reality inside schools continues to show a complex side of student life and how young people perceive violence among their peers.

The Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education presented the results of its annual survey on students’ emotional health and coexistence, conducted between November and December 2024 among 104,392 students in public primary, secondary, and special education schools. While the vast majority of 83.2% stated that school bullying is never acceptable under any circumstances, the remaining figures raised alarms. 15.5% of respondents said such aggression can be justified depending on the reason, while 1.3% went further, insisting it’s acceptable regardless of the motive. In total, over 17,000 children and young people indicated they don’t consider these behaviors entirely wrong.

Regarding direct experiences, 8,731 students admitted being victims of aggression or ridicule during the school year. Most cases were concentrated in primary school with 7,367 reports, peaking among first and second graders, where one in four admitted experiencing this issue. Additionally, nearly 30% of victims preferred not to tell anyone due to fear or shame. Fortunately, in cases where children spoke to an adult or teacher, over 80% in primary school saw the situation stop or at least reduce in intensity.

Forms of aggression varied by students’ age. In primary grades, physical attacks like punches and kicks were most common, while in secondary school, insults, ridicule, and cyberbullying via social media and forums predominated. In response, education authorities set a goal for 2027 to ensure 100% of students recognize that school violence has no justification, reinforcing psychological support and monitoring through the tablets students use daily.

The phenomenon of school bullying, or ijime, is a widely documented social issue in Japan, ranging from systematic social exclusion to physical and cyber aggression. Schools and education boards across prefectures conduct regular assessments to identify cases early and prevent serious situations in classrooms.

What do you think of the survey results and students’ perception of school bullying?