05/04/2026
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JAPAN FACES MISSING CHILD CRISIS: TRACKING THE 1,000+ CASES REPORTED EACH YEAR”
April 3rd (Fri)
Nearly two weeks have passed since a fifth-grade boy went missing in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture.
There are no records of him riding trains or buses, and he is not visible in security camera footage. Only his school backpack has been found in the mountains where the search continues, leaving the situation inexplicable and making it impossible to determine whether it was a crime or an accident.
In fact, more than 1,000 children go missing each year. According to statistics released by the National Police Agency in June 2025, 1,035 children under the age of nine went missing in 2024.
Every time we encounter such reports, we feel the anxiety of parents with children rising.
On social media, there have been numerous posts about incidents such as "a van with foreigners inside was parked in a nearby park" and "they were staring intently at children," leading to concerns that "children are being targeted for organ trafficking."
As a security consultant, I give crime prevention lectures nationwide, and recently, requests for lectures on the topic of "child abduction" have increased dramatically.
In this article, I would like to share crime prevention measures that can be implemented at home to protect children.
■ Is it true that "foreigners are systematically targeting children"?
First, I would like to be frank about the information frequently circulating on social media that "groups of foreigners are systematically abducting children" and "children are being targeted for organ trafficking."
At present, there is no confirmation that foreigners are systematically abducting Japanese children for the purpose of organ trafficking or human trafficking.
Unfortunately, I cannot deny that as the number of foreigners residing in Japan increases, the number of undesirable foreigners tends to increase proportionally.
In recent serial robbery cases, the apprehended perpetrators have sometimes included individuals of foreign nationality, and it has been confirmed that they conduct reconnaissance before committing crimes. Parks may sometimes be used as meeting places in such cases.
However, just because a group of foreigners is gathered in a park or vacant lot doesn't mean they are all there for criminal purposes. The vast majority are unrelated to crime.
Foreigners aren't the only ones who target children. It's important to remain calm, assess the situation objectively, and take only the necessary precautions, rather than being swayed by information on social media. ■Why anonymous reporting is not advisable
That said, what should you do if you see a suspicious vehicle?
First, if a child sees a suspicious vehicle or person, the most important thing is to keep their distance and ensure their safety. Then, tell a parent or another adult nearby. If a parent isn't available, it's best to return to school or tutoring and tell a teacher.
If parents are unsure whether to call 110 in a non-urgent situation, they should call " #9110 (police consultation hotline)" or the main number of their local police station.
The key point here is not to simply report, "I saw a suspicious car." It's important to provide your name and address, explain the danger (e.g., "I felt frightened"), and ask for advice on what precautions you should take with your child in the future.
By doing so, the police officer will record the details in the "Consultation Log." Even if the officer doesn't perceive it as an emergency, this information may reach their superior, potentially leading to increased patrols or questioning.
There's a significant difference in how the police receive a report depending on whether it's simply a report or a request for advice.
While anonymous reports are recorded, providing your address and name increases the reliability of the information and changes the priority of the response. Of course, if you're unsure of the urgency, calling 110 is also acceptable. Please don't hesitate to call.
■ Three Ways to Save a Child from Abduction
So, what should you tell your child to do when they actually encounter danger? Here are three methods.
1: "Running away" is the top priority; it's okay if you can't scream.
We're often told to "shout for help" if we feel in danger. However, in reality, fear often prevents us from making a sound. When we feel fear, our bodies freeze. It's not a matter of willpower.
Therefore, I tell people, "It's okay if you can't scream, just run away." The top priority is to create distance from the perpetrator.
Also, unfortunately, cries of "Help!" or "Stop!" can sometimes be mistaken for pranks or family arguments. If you can scream, specific words like "I don't know this person!" or "Call the police!" are more likely to convey the situation to those around you.
2: Choose a place with people rather than your own home to escape to.
Many parents teach their children to "run into their homes" or "run into a private house" when in danger, and while this is correct, caution is necessary.
Often, in cases of sexual assault, it's said that if you're being followed by a suspicious person, you shouldn't immediately go inside to avoid revealing your address. However, in urgent situations, especially for children, there's often no time for such precautions.
In that sense, running into your home is the right thing to do, but only if there's sufficient distance between you and the perpetrator. Otherwise, there's a risk of being abducted while you're locking the door, or before a family member opens the door after ringing the doorbell.
If both parents work and the house is empty, even if you lock the door, there's a risk of being forced inside the moment you open it. This is a pattern that actually occurs in cases where women are victims of sexual assault.
If you have enough time and distance to definitely escape into your home, and if your family is definitely at home, then it's best to go home. However, if you're unsure, prioritize places with people and adults around, not just your home. These include convenience stores, gas stations, and houses designated as "Children's 110" (emergency hotlines for children).
3: Escape using the "ding-dong ditch" method rather than targeting one house.
However, if you're trying to call for help in a residential area and being chased by a suspicious person, waiting for someone to open the door while ringing the doorbell of a single house won't be fast enough.
Running while continuously ringing doorbells using the "ding-dong ditch" method is more realistic, as it increases the chances of alerting multiple houses.
■ The criterion for judging danger is "place and situation," not "person."
From here, I'd like to write about crime prevention measures you can take to avoid dangerous situations.
The most basic principle of crime prevention is "discussing crime prevention regularly within the family."
In crime prevention lectures, I always begin by saying, "Please share with your children in advance what to do in case of an emergency." You don't need to do anything special.
Simply having conversations with your children during dinner or bath time, asking questions like, "What would you do if a scary person approached you?" or "Where would you run if something frightening happened?" is enough.
In emergencies, minds can go blank. However, the body remembers what has been repeatedly discussed in everyday conversation. Whether or not they can act in a crisis depends on this accumulation of knowledge. Furthermore, it's crucial to teach them to judge danger based on "place and situation," not "person."
Teaching children "don't go with suspicious people" is difficult. Even seemingly kind women can be dangerous. Instead, teach them to make place- and situation-based judgments, such as "leave immediately if a place feels unsafe" or "don't go down dark alleys."
This way, they won't approach places where dangerous individuals are targeting children, and they'll be able to judge whether to run away if they feel like they're being led to a "dangerous place," even by a kind-looking older brother or sister from the neighborhood.
Next, I'd like to ask you to "actually walk the school route with your child."
Blind spots that you wouldn't notice just by looking at a map become apparent when you actually walk around. Here are some points to check:
"Where are places where you can sound a personal alarm without being seen from any house?"
"Where are places where there are no people around?"
Once you find such blind spots, discuss and decide on a concrete action plan with your child, such as, "If something happens here, run to that corner and then call out," or "There are people on that main street."
Also, when walking through residential areas, don't just pass by aimlessly. Develop the habit of observing things like, "They're bringing in the laundry from the yard right now. They should be home," "There's a 'Children's 110' sticker on that corner," or "What time does that store usually close?"
Knowing where to seek help in case of an emergency will be crucial when you need it.
■Conditions for an Effective Personal Alarm
Observing your surroundings and being vigilant is also necessary when riding an elevator.
In August 2013, a female resident was murdered in an apartment building with an automatic locking system in Kobe City.
The perpetrator entered the building with another resident who had unlocked the door, thus bypassing the automatic lock. The crime was committed when the victim and the perpetrator were alone in the elevator. The time was not late, just before 7:30 PM.
An automatic lock does not equal safety. The risk of entry through "tailgating" always exists.
Children should be taught the habit of "not getting on the elevator if it looks like they'll be alone with another resident, even if they live in the same building." Even if it seems excessive, showing such vigilance itself can help deter criminals.
I often get asked, "Are personal alarms effective?" Of course, the answer is "yes."
If you are planning to buy one, if possible, choose one with a volume of 110 decibels or more. This is equivalent to the volume of a police car siren. A quiet alarm may be drowned out by surrounding noise.
Many elementary school students attach security alarms to their backpacks, but surprisingly few children actually use them correctly.
Always practice setting it up at home and learning how to stop it. This ensures you can "reliably activate it" in an emergency, and prevents panic if you accidentally set it off.
Many people buy security alarms but never practice using them because they're worried about the noise. Try practicing under a blanket or other cover.
Battery failures and water damage are common problems, so remember to check them regularly.
■ "Bright clothing" is effective not only against traffic accidents but also against criminals
The placement of the alarm is also important. Putting it at the bottom of the backpack is pointless.
"Attach it to a shoulder strap or top where it's easily accessible." Simply having a security alarm in a conspicuous location can make you less of a target for malicious individuals.
Wearing bright, conspicuous clothing or attaching reflective materials to school bags not only prevents traffic accidents but also gives perpetrators the impression that "being conspicuous = difficult to abduct."
The same applies to being aware of one's surroundings. A child walking with their head down, wearing earphones or looking at a smartphone or game, will appear completely different to a malicious person compared to a child walking while carefully looking around.
It's important to convey to children that "simply looking around while walking makes you less likely to be targeted."
What's needed to protect children's safety isn't special equipment or excessive surveillance. It's incorporating a crime prevention perspective into everyday life and continuing to talk with children. Each of these things can make a big difference in an emergency.
Editor: Toshihiko Matsumaru (Security Consultant)
Source: 東洋経済オンライン
