Japan expands scope of background checks amid child safety concerns

Japan Times

11 hours ago

Amid heightened concerns over child safety, the government is expanding the scope of its planned background check system designed to protect children from sexual offenders.
A new system, commonly referred to as the 'Japanese version of the U.K.'s Disclosure and Barring Service,' is set to go into effect in December 2026. It aims to ensure a safe learning environment for minors by facilitating background checks on individuals seeking work that involves interacting with children.
The expanded guidelines will apply not only to schools and kindergartens, but also to community spaces such as children's cafeterias and talent agencies.
The move comes as scrutiny grows over how institutions handle allegations of abuse, particularly in the entertainment industry and informal education settings.
At a meeting on Monday, the Children and Families Agency presented a draft outlining the new guidelines, revealing that community-based organizations, such as children's cafeterias, talent agencies, cram schools, and sports clubs will be subjected to the checks under certain conditions, in addition to schools and licensed child care facilities.
The draft also subjects secret filming, which would violate local ordinance, to the new system, the agency said. Last week, two teachers were accused of secretly taking indecent pictures of young schoolgirls and sharing them in a 10-member group chat.
'If it is true, they exploited their positions as teachers to collectively disregard the rights of children, which we recognize as something absolutely unforgivable,' Tomoko Fujiwara, the head of child development bureau at the Children and Families Agency, said during Monday's meeting.
Under the expanded system, background checks will be mandatory for professions including teaching, child care, licensed day care, and child welfare. Relevant institutions must verify prospective employees do not have a history of sexual offense by making an inquiry with the children's agency, which will check with the Justice Ministry for criminal records.
If an applicant falsely claims to have no criminal record and is later found to have one, employers will be permitted to revoke their offer on the grounds of "serious misrepresentation."
Unlisted organizations that offer children-related services for a six-month period or longer may also volunteer to conduct background checks in return for an official government safety certification mark.
To qualify, entities must meet four conditions:
Provide education to children
Hold in-person sessions
Operate in a location other than the child's home
Employ at least three staff members or instructors
Solo operators such as freelance tutors or babysitters are excluded from the background checks. However, the system will bring them under regulation indirectly by certifying the platforms they use to connect to clients. In those cases, it will be the platform's responsibility to ensure background checks are conducted.
In the expanded guidelines, the child agency recommends that bus drivers and volunteers who regularly interact with children be screened, but the final determination is left to the employer.
The agency plans to finalize the guidelines by the end of the year based on discussions with relevant stakeholders.
Although certification for nonmandatory institutions will be optional, the government is encouraging wide adoption as part of a broader push to create safer environments for children across public and private sectors.