Key Facts
• June 2024: Chinese woman killed protecting Japanese mother and child in Suzhou.
• September 2024: Japanese schoolboy fatally stabbed in China.
• January 2025: Free legal consultations launched in eight Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai.
• Consultations cover serious crimes like murder, assault, and domestic violence.
• Service includes three free 30-minute sessions with Japanese-speaking local lawyers.
• Expansion planned for April 2025 to countries like Thailand, starting in Bangkok.
• Advice includes filing reports, seeking legal action, and accessing victim support systems.
Summary
The Japanese government is enhancing free legal consultation services for Japanese nationals abroad, addressing challenges like language barriers in legal processes. This initiative follows violent incidents in China, including the June 2024 attack on a Japanese mother and child and the September 2024 stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy. Since January 2025, consultations have been available in eight Chinese cities, offering up to three free 30-minute sessions with Japanese-speaking lawyers. These sessions provide guidance on filing reports, pursuing legal action, and accessing victim support. The program, currently focused on serious crimes such as murder and domestic violence, will expand to other Asian countries, including Thailand, in April 2025.
