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Reports of domestic violence in Japan reached a record level in 2025, based on data released by the Japan National Police Agency on Thursday.
Police recorded 98,289 consultation requests related to domestic violence, marking a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year.
Authorities said the figure represents the highest number since the enactment of the country’s law against domestic abuse in 2001, with annual cases rising for 22 consecutive years.
Men accounted for around 30 percent of the reported victims, according to police data.
Out of the total cases, authorities took action on 8,358 incidents, slightly lower than the previous year. Most involved physical violence and assault.
More serious offenses included 128 cases of murder or attempted murder, while 88 cases involved violations of court-issued protection or restraining orders.
Separately, police referred 122,588 minors aged 17 and below to child consultation centers over suspected abuse, reflecting a slight increase.
Cases of child abuse that resulted in arrests or police action declined to 2,592, while the number of victims in those cases also dropped to 2,647, both remaining among the highest recorded figures.
