DV Awareness and How to Find Help

What is DV (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, but 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, (eg "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.

Getting help

If you're suffering from 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 needs help but is unable to ask, you can seek help on their behalf.

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

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

• 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 temporary shelter to victims, if necessary, to ensure their safety and encourage their independence.
• If you are in danger of serious physical harm or death, a court can impose a restraining order on the abuser, or order them to leave your house (depending on the allegations).

For more information, please see Information for Victims of Spousal Abuse＜外部リンク＞ (Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office).

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

If you get a divorce, your resident status will not change immediately. However, depending on your current resident status, you may need to submit notification paperwork. Before filing for divorce, consult with your nearest Regional Immigration Bureau for more information.

If you have children with a Japanese national, you can apply to change your resident status to that of long-term resident (定住者//teijū-sha).

If you do not have children, it is still possible to change your status to long-term resident by applying for a change of resident status at your Regional Immigration Bureau.

Domestic Violence Counseling Centers

All consultations are held in the strictest confidence and in regard of your privacy; counseling is provided free of charge.

For those seeking counseling and help

Hiroshima City Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center

• Tel: 082-504-2412/Fax　082-504-2835
• Hours: Weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm  (excluding national holidays; counseling provided by female counselors)
• Languages: Japanese (if you need an interpreter, please consult with us)
• Counseling available for: victims of DV, divorce issues, domestic issues, and other women's issues
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation, in-person consultation

Weekend/national holiday telephone counseling (excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

• Tel: 082-252-5578
• Hours: Weekends, national holidays, and August 6 from 10 am to 5 pm
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: victims of DV
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation

Hiroshima Prefectural Seibu Child and Family Center

(Women’s Counseling Office, Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center)

• Address: 4-1-26 Ujina-higashi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 730-0003
• Tel: 082-254-0391
• Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 am to 5 pm (excluding national holidays; counseling provided by female counselors)
• Languages: Japanese (if you need an interpreter, please consult with us)
• Counseling available for: victims of DV, divorce issues, domestic issues, and other women's issues
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation, in-person consultation

Evening and national holiday telephone counseling

• Tel: 082-254-0399
• Hours: Weekdays (excluding national holidays) from 5 pm to 8 pm, weekdays/national holidays (excluding New Years holidays) from 10 am to 5 pm
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: victims of DV, divorce issues, domestic issues, etc
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation

Women's Rights Hotline

(Human Rights Department, Hiroshima Legal Affairs Bureau)

• Address: 6-30 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8536
• Tel: 0570-070-810 (automated)
• Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:15 pm (excluding national holidays)
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: women's rights issues (DV, sexual harassment, etc)
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation, in-person consultation

ESSOR Hiroshima Counseling Program

• Address: 1-2-1 Ote-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0051
• Tel: 082-247-1120
• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (excluding Wednesdays and national holidays)
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: everyday issues, as well as DV which occurs in dating situations
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation (in-person consultation by reservation only)

DV Legal Counseling

(Kamiya-cho Legal Counseling Center, Hiroshima Bar Association)

• Address: Hiroshima Sogo New Building 6F, 6-27 Moto-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0001
• Tel: 082-225-1600
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4 pm
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: finding attorneys registered to provide DV legal counseling (as there are cases in which you can make use of the legal aid system, consult with us for details)
• Counseling methods available: appointment only (please call to schedule your appointment)

For those seeking emergency help/protection

Contact any police station or the Hiroshima Prefectural Police (24/7)

• In emergency situations, call 110

Hiroshima Chuo Police Station

• Tel: 082-224-0110

Hiroshima Higashi Police Station

• Tel: 082-506-0110

Hiroshima Nishi Police Station

• Tel: 082-279-0110

Hiroshima Minami Police Station

• Tel: 082-255-0110

Asaminami Police Station

• Tel: 082-874-0110

Asakita Police Station

• Tel: 082-812-0110

Saeki Police Station

• Tel: 082-922-0110

Kaita Police Station

• Tel: 082-820-0110

Hiroshima Prefectural Police

• Tel: 082-228-0110

For international residents with entry/exit, or residency concerns, or human rights concerns

Hiroshima Regional Immigration Bureau

• Address: 2-31 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0012
• Tel: 082-221-4411
• Hours: Weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm (excluding national holidays)
• Languages: Japanese
• Counseling available for: international residents or their family members and friends concerning immigration, residency, etc
• Counseling methods avaliable: telephone consultation, in-person consultation

Immigration Information Center

• Address: 2-31 Kami-hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0012
• Tel: 0570-013904 (automated)
• IP phone, PHS, and international calls: 03-5796-7112
• Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:15 pm (excluding national holidays)
• Languages: Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, etc
• Counseling available for: international residents or their family members and friends concerning immigration, residency, etc
• Counseling methods available: in-person consultation

Human Rights for International Residents Hotline

• Tel: 0570-090-911 (automated)
• Hours: Weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm (excluding national holidays)
• Languages: Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Vietnamese, etc
• Counseling available for: human rights for international residents
• Counseling methods available: telephone consultation

*National holidays also includes year-end and New Years holidays

Inquiries regarding this page

Gender Equality Division, Human Rights Education Department, Citizens Affairs Bureau
Tel: 082-504-2108 //  Fax: 082-504-2609
Email: danjo@city.hiroshima.lg.jp