Parents Starve and Torture 5-year-old daughter to Death
The heartbreaking child abuse and death of Yua Funato
Japan is known as a relatively safe country with a traditional culture that includes respect for elders, a strong family unit, and caring for children. There are ceremonies that even celebrate children as they turn into adults such as Children’s Day (celebrating boys), Doll’s Festival (celebrating girls), and an age ceremony (at ages 3,5, and 7) where children are dressed in kimonos and receive gifts and prayers for a healthy and happy life.
But despite this respect and adoration for children, the reality is that children face a lot of pressure both from within and outside their family. As early as kindergarten, children are forced to not only study at school but enter after-school programs called cram schools where they are bombarded with subjects like math, science, Japanese, and English even before they can tie their own shoes.
There is very little play or off time in children’s lives, as from sunrise to sunset, there is a schedule of something to be done. Even at school, after lunch, kids spend time cleaning the school. At home, most kids are made to do chores, do their homework, and go to bed early.
Despite their busy lives, at home, they are still showered with love, given cute…
