70% of Japan’s Jehovah’s Witnesses Surveyed Report Childhood Corporal Punishment and Psychological Effects

A survey of 255 current and former Jehovah’s Witnesses revealed that over 70% of those subjected to corporal punishment were “whipped” since preschool age, with more than half experiencing psychological aftereffects. The findings, released on March 14, were based on an online survey conducted by volunteers from a group of former second-generation Jehovah’s Witnesses archiving child abuse linked to the religious group. The survey, carried out in September 2021, received responses from individuals aged 10 to 69 across 39 Japanese prefectures.

The volunteers presented their findings to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, urging the religious group to reflect on its practices. Among the 217 respondents who reported being whipped, 162 indicated they were punished before starting school. Most of these incidents were carried out by their mothers. Respondents described psychological trauma, including feelings of inferiority and hatred toward their parents, alongside physical aftereffects. Eight individuals also stated they had beaten their own children.

The archive work group’s 44-year-old representative, known by the pseudonym Takashi Watawa, noted that a teenager reported being “beaten until junior high school,” indicating corporal punishment persisted at least until around 2010. A 32-year-old group member, Sarie Okuda, who attended the press conference using her real name, shared her own experience of being whipped from an early age. She expressed hope that the research would help protect children from abuse.

When approached for comment, the Japan Branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses stated, “We do not condone child abuse.” The group’s stance aligns with broader societal values of protecting the vulnerable, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which calls for advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. The survey highlights the need for continued awareness and accountability in all areas of life.

Source: Read the original report