Japan to Introduce Legislation for 20-Year Criminal Record Checks

TOKYO, Mar 08 (News On Japan) - The government has finalized a bill to introduce a system similar to the UK's Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure that individuals working with children do not have a history of sexual offenses.

The bill allows for inquiries into criminal history for up to 20 years, and the government plans to submit it to the Diet as early as next week, aiming for its enactment.

The so-called "Japanese version of the DBS" is a response to the unending incidents of children falling victim to sexual crimes in schools and tutoring centers. After discussions with the ruling party, the bill was finalized on the 7th. It stipulates that businesses can inquire about the sexual offense history of individuals working with children for a period of 20 years following incarceration and 10 years following a fine. The bill also proposes that the inquiries should cover not only new hires but also those who are already employed.

The government has indicated that if an employee is found to have a criminal history, they may be subject to reassignment or, depending on the circumstances, dismissal. Guidelines for businesses will be developed to ensure proper implementation of the system. In light of suggestions from within the ruling party that the inquiry period for criminal history should be extended further, the bill includes a provision to consider revisions within five years after its implementation.

The government intends to approve the bill at a Cabinet meeting next week and submit it to the Diet, aiming for passage within the current session.

Source: NHK

Baby Boom at North Safari Sapporo Despite Eviction Plans

Spring has brought a wave of newborn animals to North Safari Sapporo, a privately run zoo in Minami Ward, Sapporo City, even as the facility remains under pressure to remove illegal structures and relocate its animals.

Spectators Soak Up Rainy Sanja Festival

The Sanja Festival at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, a signature early-summer tradition of the downtown area, reached its peak on Saturday as groups of local carried mikoshi through the streets in the main 'Rengo Togyo' procession despite the rain.

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Free Tuition Fuels Shift Toward Private High Schools, Leaving Public Schools Behind?

Japan’s policy to provide free high school tuition for both public and private schools is expanding options for families who once gave up on private education due to cost. However, in Osaka, where this policy was implemented ahead of other regions, even prestigious public high schools are now struggling to fill seats.

Rescue Readiness on Display as Firefighters Demonstrate Skills

Firefighters selected from Kasuga, Onojo, and Nakagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture demonstrated their rescue techniques on May 16th ahead of an upcoming skills competition designed to test emergency response capabilities.

Is Japanese a Difficult Language?

Many Japanese people agree that Japanese is a difficult language, especially for foreigners. They point out the complexity of homonyms, kanji characters, multiple writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji), and the different intonations that can change meaning—for example, the word "hashi" can mean either "bridge" or "chopsticks" depending on pronunciation. Even native speakers find this confusing.

Painting a Shiba Inu with Acrylic Gouache – Watch It Come to Life!

In this video, watercolor artist Shibasaki brings an adorable Shiba Inu to life using acrylic gouache. From the initial pencil sketch to layering warm colors and creating soft, fluffy fur, you'll see every step of the process – almost entirely uncut! (Watercolor by Shibasaki)

Japan's Teachers to Receive Higher Pay and Shorter Hours

A bill to revise the Kyūtoku Law, aiming to improve the treatment of Japan's public school teachers by gradually raising the salary supplement in place of overtime pay from 4% to 10%, was approved by the Lower House Committee on Education on Wednesday after ruling and opposition parties agreed on revisions.