TOKYO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 485 complaints about violence and abuse of power in sports were filed in Japan in fiscal 2023, a record high since the statistic began to be kept in 2014, local media reported.
According to a report by the Japan Sport Association (JSA), the figure, up 30 percent from 2022's record of 373, is due to the association's campaign to curb harassment in sports and a growing awareness of the consultation services it provides, Kyodo News reported.
The largest group of complaints, which accounted for 42 percent of the total, concerned elementary school students, while complaints of abuse from high school students and junior high school students accounted for 13 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
Complaints about the use of abusive language continued to rise, making up 39 percent of the cases, while violent conduct, which accounted for 38 percent in 2015, fell to 10 percent in the latest report, the JSA said.
The JSA said many children who suffer abuse are still unable to speak up, noting that only 44 reports were made in fiscal 2023 to a desk to field complaints directly from children. ■
