Unlike some Western countries that have long been taking action to curb bullying in schools, education experts say Japan has not been able to deal with the problem because people are failing to make a concerted effort.
"It seems to me that parents, schools and governments overseas have been able to face issues together. But that's not the case here in Japan," said Takashi Ota, honorary chairman of the Japanese Society for the Protection of Children, a group of more than 130 teachers and education specialists.
The British Department of Education and Skills worked with university experts to create a bullying prevention program in the late 1980s.
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