Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 1

ABSTRACT

On this paper, the researcher will be studying the causes and effects of bullying in Japan among
senior high school students. Bullying is considered as one major social problem in Japan, with a total of
70, 231 bullying cases reported to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT) in year 2011.1 Compared to other industrialized countries, this rate is very high.2

One of the causes which this paper will discuss is the pressure that senior high school student
receives. In Japan, senior high school students are pressured to pass the university entrance exam,
because these exams are given only once a year. The effects of bullying will also be tackled on this study,
but one of the major effects that this study will review is the suicide cases. The researcher will also
discuss other effects of bullying like hikikomori among the others.

There are many related literature and discussion regarding on this topic. But the main focus and
objective of this study, is to study the causes and effects of bullying in senior high school students in
Japan. The scope of this study is limited only to the senior high school students in Japan.

INTRODUCTION

What is bullying? Bullying is a repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful

person by a more powerful one. The prevalence of bullying by and of school children is quite high; in
some studies, about half of children were bullies, and over half were victims. Boys bully more than girls,
but boys and girls are victimized about equally. 3

Since the middle of the 1980’s, school bullying has received a large amount of attention as an
emerging social problem in the Japanese society.4 In Japan, senior high school students are experiencing

1 Japan Today (Sep. 12, 2012 - 04:10PM JST). 70,231 school bullying cases reported in 2011. Retrieved Oct 10, 2013, from the
Japan Today, http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/70231-school-bullying-cases-reported-in-2011
2 Shinkichi, S. (2012). Anatomy of Japanese Bullying. Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from

http://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00054/
3 Farrington, D. (1993). Understanding and Preventing Bullying. Crime and Justice (pp. 381-458) Published by the University of

Chicago Press.
4 Naito, T. & Gielen, U. (n.d.) Bullying and Ijime in Japanese schools: A Sociocultural perspective. Retrieved from

http://www.uwegielen.com/Bullying%20and%20Ijime%20in%20Japanese%20Schools%20A%20Sociocultural%20Perspective.pd
f
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 2

tremendous pressure from their study. This is due to the anticipation for them to pass the university
entrance examination set only once a year. Boys are more pressured compared to the girls, in view of
the fact that boys are much accepted to enter the university than girls. Students feel pressured and tired,
adding the numerous minor rules from school and the society, lacking of close connection with their
instructors, and unconvinced with their future, a good number of Japanese students suffers from feeling
of discontent and stress.5 This factor affects the behaviour of student that cause them to bully. Of
course, this should not be the only reason for us to conclude that the pressure from studies is the only
reason why student bullies. In reality it is difficult to identify only one factor as a cause of bullying. But
even if we can identify only one factor as a cause in a specific case, we can hardly end that it is a
common cause to cover other cases.6

RESEARCH PROBLEM

What are the causes and the effects of bullying among Japanese senior high school students?

ASSUMPTIONS

1. The most common type of bullying in Japan is physical abuse.

2. There are insufficient government policies regarding bullying in Japan.
3. The rate of suicide cases involving bullies in Japan is high compared to other developed
countries.

METHODOLOGIES

On this study, the researcher used a qualitative research method. In order for the researcher to
grasp a solid understanding on this issue, the researcher needed to study different news, articles and
studies involving bullying and/or Ijime (Japanese term for bullying). The researcher gathered relevant
data from different studies, and then compiled the necessary data needed in order to analyze and
arrived on a conclusion.

5 Naito, T. & Gielen, U. (n.d.) Bullying and Ijime in Japanese schools: A Sociocultural perspective. Retrieved from
http://www.uwegielen.com/Bullying%20and%20Ijime%20in%20Japanese%20Schools%20A%20Sociocultural%20Perspective.pd
f
6 Taki, M. (2001). Japanese School Bullying: Ijime. Retrieved Oct 10, 2013 from http://www.nier.go.jp/a000110/Toronto.pdf
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 3

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES

There are a lot of factors that causes bullying in Japanese senior high school. One of the factors
is the so called negative conformity, by Solomon Asch. If the environments purge different opinions and
views, then that environment drives the student into isolation, students who do not agree with the
powerful ones will be isolated, and bullying will arise in such scenario.7 In everyday life we encounter
conformity, it’s just that Japan has a very strict observance; everyone should follow what is considered
standard, and opposing this standard would fall into negative conformity.

Another study conducted by Stale Einarsen of the University of Bergen in Norway, showed that
resentment and jealousy is also a cause for a student to become bully.8 Sometimes, bullies use bullying
as an instrument for them to hide their anxiety and/or to enhance their sense of worth by humiliating
others through bullying. And most cases of bullies’ falls into this category, generally bullies fall into this
category since the main problems among bullies are their lack of self confidence; also they feel that they
are not accepted, that’s why they feel anxious about their selves causing them to find other person who
are less powerful to them, and intimidate them. Bully occasionally has this companion that will help the
main bully to bully, they are branded as accomplices.

Family is also one of the reasons why we have bullies. Parent also has a role in bullies’
behaviour; families who are out of order are more susceptible to have a child who bully. But it is not
only a broken family, another study shows that even if the family is complete but the atmosphere is not
that good, it may cause the child to bully. The rates of bully who are in this kind of family setting are
higher compared to the latter bullies who are in a harmonious relationship with their family. But of
course some bullies maybe in harmonious relationship with their family, but still they bully, most bully
who are like this are individuals who holds higher status in the society. Some because of their status
would like to show to others their power and their influence. Another cause for a student to bully is the
Media. Media as well is one of the causes of bullying; there are some TV programs, websites, and esp.
video games that have a feature of a violent behaviour that encourages people to use violence to affirm

7 Sugimori, S. (2013) Anatomy of Child Bullying in Japan 4: Bullying Prevention (1): Preventing bullying caused by "negative
conformity"
8 Einarsen, S. (2003) Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace: International Perspectives in Research and Practice
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 4

oneself. If a distressed child would be able to see these kinds of things, the child could use these
illustrations as a habit to gain popularity with peers.

To summarize this section, the causes of bullying in Japanese senior high school varies per
person to person but the common causes are the following, but not limited to the school activity (stress
in studying), environment, family relationship, media, and lack of self-confidence (sense of worth). As
mentioned above there are of course also other different reasons on why student bullies, but what is
stated on this section are the common causes of bullying in senior high school students.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BULLIES AND THE VICTIMS

Most of the bullies regard themselves highly, they like being looked up to and they often expect
everyone to behave according to their wishes. Children who bully are often not trained to think about
how their actions make other people experience.9 Bullies also defined as those having an aggressive
character pattern, with the tendency to react aggressively in a variety of situations. They also tend to
have the inability to control their self consciousness against aggressive tendencies, and often have a
positive attitude towards aggression. While on the other hand, the victims are frequently person who
experience from the negative actions, either psychologically or physically. Many believe the victims are
mainly accidental, undeserving people that were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.10 Some of
the victims are those excelling in their class or those students who are getting a positive attention.
Bullies aim these students for the reason that they either feel inferior or they worry that their abilities
are being surpassed by the victims’ abilities.

TYPES OF BULLYING

According to the National Centre against Bullying (NCAB), the Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development’s Building Respectful and Safe Schools identified four (4) types of bullying.

The four (4) types of bullying are as follows:

9 Bullying - Characteristics of Children Who Bully (2010). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/bullying-characteristics-of-children-who-bully
10 Williams, E. (2010). Bully and Victim Characteristics. Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from http://bullyingproject.com/bullies-and-

victims/
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 5

1. Physical Bullying
Physical bullying includes any physical contact that would injure a person like hitting, kicking,
punching, etc. Taking something that belongs to someone else and destroying it would also be
considered a type of physical bullying.11

2. Verbal Bullying
“Verbal bullying includes name calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, homophobic or racist
remarks, or verbal abuse.

3. Covert Bullying
“Covert bullying is often harder to recognise and can be carried out behind the bullied person's
back. It is designed to harm someone's social reputation and/or cause humiliation. Covert
bullying includes:
 Lying and spreading rumours
 Negative facial or physical gestures, menacing or contemptuous looks
 Playing nasty jokes to embarrass and humiliate
 Mimicking unkindly
 Encouraging others to socially exclude someone
 Damaging someone's social reputation or social acceptance.

4. Cyber Bullying
“Cyber bullying is overt or covert bullying behaviours using digital technologies. Examples
include harassment via a mobile phone, setting up a defamatory personal website or
deliberately excluding someone from social networking spaces. Cyber bullying can happen at
any time. It can be in public or in private and sometimes only known to the target and the
person bullying.”12

In Japan, the most common form of bullying is name calling, or teasing followed by physical
abuse, or threat. The chart below is based on the international comparison of bullying – analysis of a

11 Types of Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/typesbullying.html#

12 Four kinds of Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from http://www.ncab.org.au/fourkindsofbullying/
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 6

survey of Japan, Britain, the Netherlands, and Norway. The chart below excluded other countries to give
emphasis on Japan’s bullying situation. There are more incidence of female silent treatment with 68%,
than male 45%, while on physical abuse, or threat, male are more rampant with 55%, against 21% for
female. But all in all, it’s the name calling, or teasing which reported as very high, and equalling the male
and female cases.

100
90
80
70
60
50 Male
40
Female
30
20
10
0
Name Calling, Silent Treatment, Rumors, Scribling Physical Abuse, Extortion
Teasing Ostracism on possessions Threats

Frequency of different type of bullying in Japan.13

EFFECTS OF BULLYING

The effect of bullying varies from person to person, but the most common effects of bullying are
stress and anxiety, they also feel embarrassed, worn out, and shamed. Bullying if not stopped can even
lead into suicide. Suicide rate among Japanese students are increasing yearly. The most recent ministry
figures on collective bullying showed that there were about 70,000 cases in 2011. While the figure
represents a decline by 7,000 from the year 2010, the number of student suicides augmented by 46 to
202 in year 2011.14

Another effect of bullying is hikikomori. Hikikomori is defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour,
and Welfare as people who refuse to leave their home to separate themselves from the society for a

13 Frequency of different types of bullying by country. (2001). Retrieve Oct 13, 2013, from Nippon.com. Copyright 2011-2013
Nippon Communications Foundation
14 Metcalfe, J. (2013-07-21). Japan Looks to Address Bullying, Suicides at Schools. Japan RealTime. Retrieved from

http://asia.wsj.com
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 7

period of six (6) months or over.15 The estimates number of people who are in this kind of situation
ranges from 200,000 to 1 million.16 Victims who turn in this kind of phenomenon withdraw to their
bedroom and close themselves, the longer the hikikomori remain apart to the society, increases the
possibility of students considering suicide.

THE GOVERNMENTS POLICIES REGARDING BULLYING IN JAPAN

Before, there are no laws or policies regarding the bullying in Japan. The Japanese government,
view bullying as a rite of passage in a deeply competitive education system.17 But with the rising number
of suicides by students involving bullying in Japan and with the insufficient effort by schools to deal with
the issue, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is considered to put up an
investigation unit all over Japan to further check the suicide occurrence involving bullying in Japan. Also
the parliament has prompted the drafting of the new legislation to be of assistance to the school
teachers to identify and to prevent bullying in schools.18 The bill regarding bullying has been submitted
to Japan’s parliament last June 2013. The bill intends to advance the recognition of bullying, to assist the
school and the victim, and also the right of the parents to know the bullying situation. Also according to
this new bill, the school are required to report bullying cases to the ministry and local government.
Another part of this bill is regarding the cyber bullying, local and central government are required to
monitor cyber bullying, and to cooperate with the police if the case is considered serious.19

With this new bill, there will be a zero tolerance for bullying in Japan. In Asia, Japan is one of the
countries that are behind in considering bullying as a crime.

FINDINGS/SUMMARY

This study discussed the causes and effects of bullying by tackling different researches. First, the
causes, cause of bullying depends in the children’s environment. Different study shows that if the

15 Itou, J. (2003). Shakaiteki Hikikomori Wo Meguru Tiiki Seisin Hoken Katudou No Guide-line. Tokyo: Ministry of Health, Labor,
and Welfare.
16 Diep, F. (2013). FYI: What is Hikikomori. Retrieved Oct 13, 2013, from Popular Science

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/fyi-what-hikikomori
17 McCurry, J. (2013-05-09). Long troubled by school bullying, Japan now eyes zero tolerance. Retrieved from

http://www.csmonitor.com/
18 Metcalfe, J. (2013-07-21). Japan Looks to Address Bullying, Suicides at Schools. Japan RealTime. Retrieved from

http://asia.wsj.com
19 The Tokyo Times. (2013). Japan Passes Law Against Bullying in Schools. Retrieved from http://www.tokyotimes.com
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 8

environment of a child at an early age is not so good, the child can become a bully. Pressure from
different area like studies also contributes to child’s behaviour to become a bully. Effects of bullying can
greatly affect a child’s life or even into his entire life, sometimes bullying can also lead to a serious case
like suicide. Another serious effect of bullying is hikikomori, a form of phenomenon in Japan, which
withdraw or cut themselves to the society. With the increase of suicide and hikikomori incidence
involving bullying, the government became sensitive of this issue, thus giving stress in putting up a policy
that will halt this kind of occurrence.

CONCLUSION

Compared to other countries, Japan’s physical bullying is worst compared to Britain, the
Netherlands, and Norway.20 But in Japan this physical bullying is not that high, what is the main type or
main problem of bullying that occur in Japan is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is the prevalent kind of
bullying in Japan. Through these new technologies it is very hard to identify who is the bully, and it is
usually unsupervised by the adults.

The government policies only come recently because of high rate of suicidal incidence involving
school bullying. Bullying is seen as rite of passage for the students, but because of massive news
regarding bullying, the government was able to notice that this is becoming more serious. Compared to
other Asian countries, Japan is behind in proposing a bill that will protect the student from bullying. But
with these new policies being put in the parliament, there would be great changes with these kind of
problem.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bullying - Characteristics of Children Who Bully (2010). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/bullying-characteristics-of-children-who-bully

Diep, F. (2013). FYI: What is Hikikomori. Retrieved Oct 13, 2013, from Popular Science
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/fyi-what-hikikomori

Einarsen, S. (2003) Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace: International Perspectives in
Research and Practice

20
Frequency of different types of bullying by country. (2001). Retrieve Oct 13, 2013, from Nippon.com. Copyright 2011-2013
 Bullying in Japanese Senior High School 9

Farrington, D. (1993). Understanding and Preventing Bullying. Crime and Justice (pp. 381-458) Published
by the University of Chicago Press.

Four kinds of Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from http://www.ncab.org.au/fourkindsofbullying/

Frequency of different types of bullying by country. (2001). Retrieve Oct 13, 2013, from Nippon.com.
Copyright 2011-2013 Nippon Communications Foundation

Itou, J. (2003). Shakaiteki Hikikomori Wo Meguru Tiiki Seisin Hoken Katudou No Guide-line. Tokyo:
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

Japan Today (Sep. 12, 2012 - 04:10PM JST). 70,231 school bullying cases reported in 2011. Retrieved Oct
10, 2013, from the Japan Today, http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/70231-school-
bullying-cases-reported-in-2011

McCurry, J. (2013-05-09). Long troubled by school bullying, Japan now eyes zero tolerance. Retrieved
from http://www.csmonitor.com/

Metcalfe, J. (2013-07-21). Japan Looks to Address Bullying, Suicides at Schools. Japan RealTime.
Retrieved from http://asia.wsj.com

Naito, T. & Gielen, U. (n.d.) Bullying and Ijime in Japanese schools: A Sociocultural perspective. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.uwegielen.com/Bullying%20and%20Ijime%20in%20Japanese%20Schools%20A%20Soci
ocultural%20Perspective.pdf

Shinkichi, S. (2012). Anatomy of Japanese Bullying. Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from
http://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00054/

Sugimori, S. (2013) Anatomy of Child Bullying in Japan 4: Bullying Prevention (1): Preventing bullying
caused by "negative conformity"

Taki, M. (2001). Japanese School Bullying: Ijime. Retrieved Oct 10, 2013 from
http://www.nier.go.jp/a000110/Toronto.pdf

The Tokyo Times. (2013). Japan Passes Law Against Bullying in Schools. Retrieved from
http://www.tokyotimes.com

Types of Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from

http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/typesbullying.html#

Williams, E. (2010). Bully and Victim Characteristics. Retrieved Oct 12, 2013, from
http://bullyingproject.com/bullies-and-victims/