An examination of specific types of Ijime within Japanese schools

Multiple suicides among Japanese students due to bullying have resulted in the initiation of various mechanisms to prevent, manage and measure the pre valence of bullying (ijime). Ijime is now a problem of epidemic proportions in Japan. Due to the historical roots of collectivism, combined with the r apid industrialization of Japan, the manifestation of bullying is very diff erent from that seen in Western cultures. The Japanese government, through Mombusho (Japanese Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture), and the Japan Center for Family and Child Research, has attempted to respond to the ever increasing incidence of ijime among Japanese students. In an effort to bot h augment the level of response, as well as increase the scope of understan ding, a fellowship was established to facilitate the ability of a foreign p rofessor to research the issue of ijime. This manuscript informs the preval ence and types of ijime-related behaviours, and presents the findings of re lated interviews and focus groups conducted in Japan. Differences in behavi ours at the elementary, junior high anti high school, educational levels ar e discussed.