DV Awareness and How to Find Help

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Domestic Violence(Violence Committed by　a Spouse or Partner)

If you are suffering from domestic violence (DV) and need help:

You are not alone; take the first step and ask for help. No one should suffer in silence.
If you have an emergency situation on your hands, contact the police or DV counseling center immediately.

If you know someone who wants help but is unable to ask themselves, you can seek help on their behalf.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence (also called domestic abuse) refers to violence committed by a spouse or partner. Some forms of DV are even classified as crimes, and under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to abuse your partner. DV affects not just the victim, but also has a significant impact on children as well.

DV can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Physical violence
Punching, kicking, threatening with weapons like knives, pulling hair, etc.
Psychological violence
Screaming at your partner, threatening the economic livelihood of your partner (e.g. “you wouldn't make a living without me!”), limiting your partner's contact with friends, looking at your partner's phone without permission, willfully ignoring your partner, etc.
Sexual violence
Forcing your partner to watch pornographic content against their will, forcing them into sexual acts against their will, forcing them to have an abortion, refusing to use birth control methods, etc.
Economic violence
Refusing to provide living expenses to your partner, not allowing your partner to work, etc.

The Act on the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims (DV Protection Act)

DV is a serious violation of human rights and, in some cases, is classified as a crime.
The Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center provides DV counseling and, if necessary, temporary shelter to victims to ensure their safety and encourage their independence.
If you are in danger of serious physical harm or death, a court can, upon petition, impose a restraining order on the abuser or order them to leave your house.

The DV Protection Act pertains to violence committed by a spouse, including those who are, for all intents and purposes, in a marital relationship (common law marriage), as well as violence committed by ex-spouses. It also pertains to violence/abuse committed by a partner (boyfriend/girlfriend) with whom a victim shares a residence. This act applies to all international residents living in Japan, regardless of their nationality or resident status.

What happens to my resident status if I get a divorce or live separately from my partner?

If you get a divorce, you will not lose your resident status immediately. However, depending on your current resident status, you may need to submit notification paperwork. Please consult with your nearest Regional Immigration Services Bureau for more information as early as possible.
If you have custody of children you had with a Japanese national after divorce, you can apply to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau to change your resident status to that of Long-term Resident.
If you do not have children, it may be possible to change your status to Long-term Resident by applying for a change of resident status at your Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

List of Domestic Violence (DV) Counseling Centers

In consideration of your privacy, confidentiality is strictly maintained throughout the counseling process.

Counseling is provided free of charge.

For persons seeking counseling:　　　　　　　　　　　Note: Holidays refer to national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays, etc.

Institution		Telephone/Fax	Counseling Method	Services Offered	Languages
Hiroshima City Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center	Counseling by female counselors Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 10:00 am-5:00 pm	Tel: 082-504-2412 Fax: 082-504-2835	By phone, in-person	Counseling for DV victims, women’s counseling (divorce problems, domestic troubles, etc.)	Japanese (Please notify us if you need an interpreter)
	Holiday telephone counseling on DV Weekends, holidays, and 8/6 (excluding year-end and New Year holidays) 10:00 am-5:00 pm	Tel: 082-252-5578	By phone	Counseling for DV victims	Japanese
Hiroshima Prefectural Seibu Child and Family Center (Women’s Counseling Center, Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center) 4-1-26 Ujina-higashi, Minami-ku Hiroshima 734-0003	Counseling by female counselors, etc. Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 8:30 am-5:00 pm	Tel: 082-254-0391	By phone, in-person (appointment for in-person counseling unless it’s an emergency)	Counseling for DV victims, women’s counseling (divorce problems, domestic troubles, etc.)	Japanese (Please notify us if you need an interpreter)
	Evening and holiday telephone counseling Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 5:00-8:00 pm Weekends and holidays (excluding year-end and New Year holidays) 10:00 am-5:00 pm	Tel: 082-254-0399	By phone		Japanese
Women’s Rights Hotline (Human Rights Department, Hiroshima Legal Affairs Bureau) 6-30 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8536 Mon-Fri (excluding holidays): 8:30 am-5:15 pm		Tel: 0570-070-810 (Automated line)	By phone, in-person	Counseling related to general women’s human rights, including DV and sexual harassment	Japanese
ESSOR Hiroshima Counseling Program 1-2-1 Ote-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0051 Mon-Sat (excluding Wed and holidays): 10:00 am-4:00 pm		Tel: 082-247-1120	By phone (in-person counseling by appointment only)	Counseling related to a variety of problems arising from everyday life, including DV in dating relationships	Japanese
DV Legal Counseling (Kamiya-cho Legal Counseling Center, Hiroshima Bar Association) Mon-Fri: 9:30 am-4:00 pm		Tel: 082-225-1600	Call for appointment	Introduction to attorneys registered to provide DV legal counseling (Please consult us concerning use of the legal aid system.)	Japanese

For violent situations or situations where you need emergency protection:

Local police stations or Hiroshima Prefectural Police HQ

(Available 24 hours)

Police Stations and Telephone Numbers

Counseling Method

Languages

In case of emergency: Dial 110

Hiroshima Chuo Police Station: 082-224-0110, Hiroshima Higashi Police Station: 082-506-0110

Hiroshima Nishi Police Station: 082-279-0110, Hiroshima Minami Police Station: 082-255-0110

Asaminami Police Station: 082-874-0110, Asakita Police Station: 082-812-0110

Saeki Police Station: 082-922-0110, Kaita Police Station: 082-820-0110

Hiroshima Prefectural Police HQ: 082-228-0110

By phone

Japanese

For foreign residents and their family members and friends seeking counseling concerning entry into, exit from, or residence in Japan, and concerning human rights:

Institution	Telephone	Counseling Method	Services Offered	Languages
Hiroshima Regional Immigration Services Bureau 2-31 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0012 Mon-Fri (excluding national holidays) 9:00 am-4:00 pm	Tel: 082-221-4411 (Main line)	By phone, in-person	Counseling for foreign residents and their family members and friends concerning immigration, residence, etc.	Japanese
Immigration Information Center 2-31 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0012 In-person counseling: Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 9:00 am-4:00 pm Telephone counseling: Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 8:30 am-5:15 pm	Tel: 0570-013904 (Automated line) IP, PHS, or from abroad: 03-5796-7112	By phone, in-person (phone counseling will be directed to the general consultation desk)		In-person counseling: Japanese, English (Chinese also partially available) Telephone counseling: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, others
Human Rights Hotline (Human Rights Protection Department, Hiroshima Legal Affairs Bureau) 6-30 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8536 Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 9:00 am-5:00 pm	Tel: 0570-090-911 (Automated line)	By phone	Human rights counseling for foreign residents	English, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, others