FAQ on Domestic Violence

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence relates to violence between intimate partners, such as married couples or lovers.（Predominantly violence against women by men）. It is not just physical violent acts such as kicking and punching, verbal abuse is also domestic violence.

1. Mental violence: hurling abusive language like "stupid" and "good for nothing", a partner ignoring their partner even when they are talking, breaking or throwing away valuable items, monitoring and regulating a partner's relationships or other.
2. Physical violence: Hitting, kicking or other
3. Sexual violence: Forcing unwanted sexual activity, not allowing contraception or other.
4. Economic violence: Not allowing living expenses, confiscating money or other.

If I am subjected to violence, who should I talk to?

Talk to your local police station, women's advice center or the welfare division of the prefectural development bureau. You can also get advice from your municipality's welfare division.

【Women's Advice Center】
Phone consultation:：058-274-7377
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 9:00pm
Weekends and holidays: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Face-to-face consultations: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm　*excluding end of year holidays

What should I do to keep an abusive partner away?

When you fear you may be seriously injured or that your life is threatened due to partner violence, a protection order can be enacted by a local court against a partner, by petition from the abused partner. For information on how to petition, talk to the women's advice center, welfare division of the prefectural development bureau or your municipality's welfare division. The types of protection orders are listed below.

1. Victim restraining order (prohibition on following the victim for 6 months)
2. Phone prohibition order (prohibition on phoning the victim for 6 months)
3. Child and relative restraining order (prohibition on following the victim's children, relatives or other for 6 months）
4. Departure order (the assailant must leave the principal place of residency, shared with the victim, for 2 months)

If my partner does not cooperate in renewing my period of stay, what should I do?

Even if your spouse does not cooperate, it is possible to apply for a change of status of residence and renew your period of stay. If you overstay your period of stay, you are unable to apply for a visa permit extension. As such, before you exceed your period of stay please consult with an immigration office.

If I am unable to discuss divorce with my spouse, what should I do?

First talk to either, the women's advice center, the welfare division of the prefectural development bureau or your municipality's welfare division. Free legal advice is available at these places. However, if your status of residence is "spouse of Japanese national" you must change this, as once you divorce you are no longer the spouse of a Japanese national.

Are there privacy safeguards?

Information such as the victim's address, details disclosed in consultations and support, is not divulged to third parties. Privacy will be respected.