Gunma man arrested for beating 8-year-old son

Saturday 04th April, 07:30 PM JST

GUNMA —

Gunma police on Friday arrested an unemployed 31-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting his 8-year-old son in Annaka City. The suspect, identified as Moto Ishikawa, has admitted to the charges, police said. He was quoted as saying, “The boy just wouldn’t listen to what I said, so I hit him.”

Police allege that Ishikawa beat the boy on his upper body on Thursday night. Neighbors spotted the boy walking naked through the area at around 9 p.m. and reported the incident to police. The boy testified that he had run away after Ishikawa had begun beating him in the bathroom.

Police are currently investigating allegations that Ishikawa often used physical violence.

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Latest 15 of 24 Total Comments Show All

cleo at 06:18 PM JST - 4th April

I'm not a parent...

lol Say no more. Everyone is an expert on raising children until they finally have one of their own. The 'you deserve to be given lip' comment was a general one, aimed at anyone who thinks hitting kids is a good idea, not you in particular. If you took it as an insult, I apologise. It wasn't meant as one.

You don't seriously think that a child deeply understands respecting other people's space, feelings and rights, do you?

Depends a lot on the age and intelligence of the child. Any normal child can and should be taught how to interact with others. But little kids have no understanding, deep or otherwise, of respecting other people's space, feelings and rights, and you could sit them down and lecture them about it until Hell froze over and the cows came skating home, and they still wouldn't understand. So what are you going to do when little kids fail to obey the rules you've laid down, that they don't understand? Beat them for not understanding? How is a child supposed to understand, when his own space, feelings and rights are being violated by a violent parent?

When kids get in trouble and you give them a stern talking to or a disapproving look, and it causes them to behave better next time - do you think that is respect? Don't kid yourself. The child is just afraid of being scolded / punished again.

I agree. Punishment is ineffective; you simply teach the child not to get caught next time. The parent who sits around watching the telly or reading the paper while junior 'gets in trouble' and then tries to do something about it by hitting the kid is clueless. If the child has been raised properly in the first place, it doesn't get into trouble - certainly not the kind of trouble that can only be handled by adults getting physical. Parents need to be proactive, not reactive.

When I do have kids, I will be setting boundaries and enforcing them. I will explain why I want them doing this and not that.

Setting boundaries is good. Essential. But have you thought about what you're going to do before the child is old enough to understand, analyse and internalise your explanations? And how do you think your verbal explanations of why they mustn't do something (how would you feel in such a situation) would balance with your physical explanation (if I catch you doing that again I'll beat you)?

I've raised two kids proactively, and they've turned out pretty darned good. That doesn't mean they were always little angels and never played up, and sometimes it was very hard work. Today as adults both kids respect their parents without ever having feared us, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
BBLeo at 06:28 PM JST - 4th April

Child like that would grow up with hate and will disturbed for the rest of his life, he could bedcome a 'crim.' Father should be punished severly.
flammenwerfer at 07:10 PM JST - 4th April

We don't know how badly behaved this boy is, he could have ADHD, Aspergers or he could a recidivist. His poor Dad could have been at his wits end with him and in Japan there is precious little support offered in many municipalities for children with problems. How badly did he " beat" him? an open hand on the buttocks is not the some as closed fist. Lots of factors to consider in a case that looks at first sight black and white...lots of grey from where I am looking.
bobcatfish at 08:07 PM JST - 4th April

flammerwerfer - people with ADHD, Aspergers and just the plain stupid
Sarge at 08:15 PM JST - 4th April

There's a big difference between a swat on the rear/slap upside the head for bad behavior, and a real beating for any reason. I think this case warrants further investigation.
Ultrashaman at 10:27 PM JST - 4th April

How badly did he " beat" him? an open hand on the buttocks is not the some as closed fist.

Police allege that Ishikawa beat the boy on his upper body on Thursday night.
medievaltimes at 11:00 PM JST - 4th April

As usual a lot missing from this type of story. I would be willing to bet a double scoop of ice cream this was not an isolated incident.

Was there a prior record with this dude? Where is the mother of the child? Were there any previous complaints/charges filed of a similar nature? Any drugs and/or alcohol abuse involved? Were social services involved with this family? If so, what was their involvement? Was the guy supposed to be on medication? If so, was he taking it? Etc...etc...etc..
UnagiDon at 11:25 PM JST - 4th April

As usual a lot missing from this type of story.

Yeah - isn't it awful when the police and English-speaking media don't release more details of a criminal case to satisfy the curiousity of anonymous internet persona?
Den Den at 12:49 AM JST - 5th April

Violence is usually a desperate response. I agree with other posters that discipline is lacking in this generation of youths. Lashing out doesn't solve this problem. A deeper effort within society is needed. Smaller class sizes and fully-funded and supervised after-school care with available spaces would be a start...
elbudamexicano at 03:58 AM JST - 5th April

I feel very sorry for this poor 8 year old boy to have such a crappy "father", I am a father, my kids do drive me crazy but this idiot in Gunma should be locked up and re educated, now he is not fit to even take care of himself, let alone a poor, defenseless 8 year old.
booboo at 06:34 AM JST - 5th April

Im glad people called the police! I feel so bad for the little boy of course but again at least someone called the poilce, huge step for Japan!!!
tjfrancis at 07:30 AM JST - 5th April

I'm neutral when it comes to either slapping (but to what extent?) or cleo and Disillusioned's perspectives. however I do find putting her (21 months old) in her bedroom with no toys until she can calm down does work wonders and doesn't involve any physical pain only crocodile tears. my daughter went from throwing a 30 minute fit to less than a minute. ( are we still on topic? :-)
Disillusioned at 01:51 PM JST - 5th April

**tjfrancis ** Yes, it is called, 'the sin bin' and 3-5 minutes is usually enough although, a clever parent nips the behavior in the bud before the sin bin is necessary. It is much more effective than any form of physical punishment. It's called, punishment by deprivation and does teach kids to respect their environment. Even screaming at kids is a form of abuse. A parent should have three tones of voice for their kids. A) I love you. B) C'mon, settle down. C) count to three. That's all and (A) is the most effective. If you take your control any further it is the parent who is out of line. Kids are kids, not pets to be controlled. You should encourage your kids to explore the bounds of reality and to make their own choices. I too had a father that would chase me around the yard with a leather strap, but that doesn't make it right. Unfortunately, if a parent can't outsmart a kid then they shouldn't be parents. I have always compared raising children to driving a car. When you learn to drive a car you are given time to practice, material to study and a test to prove your abilities and knowledge, however, there are no such regulations regarding raising a child (or four). Love your kids and they will love you back. It is that simple.
cleo at 02:11 PM JST - 5th April

Kids are kids, not pets to be controlled.

Actually, the training techniques that work best with dogs (and other animals) also work best with kids. Positive/negative reinforcement, parental control of privileges and sparse, judicious use of the sin bin (aka 'house' for dogs).

Anyone who thinks they 'control' their dogs like they control their TV set is living in fairy land!
CMEANDU26 at 04:22 PM JST - 6th April

Next time he will close the curtains so that the neighbors don't bother him in the middle of teaching his son how to listen to what he is saying.