-What decisions should management make and how should they prepare for the risk of sexual assault?
- The following is content from the press release -
Matsuda & Associates (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Attorney: Junichi Matsuda, a member of the Tokyo Bar Association) will hold a free online seminar, "Child Safety Seminar - Sexual Assault -" on Wednesday, March 25 and Tuesday, April 28, 2026, for managers and directors of daycare centers, kindergartens and childcare centers. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 28.
This seminar will consist of two sessions, with the first session,What If You Receive a Report of Sexual Assault (Abuse)? ～What to keep in mind when responding to a sexual assault (abuse) call?This session will explain the concept of how to prevent recurrence of problems from the initial response to the occurrence of problems.
In the 2nd,What if an Employee's Criminal Record is Revealed? -Practical Japanese version of DBS".The theme of the seminar will be "How to respond to the DBS in the case of a staff member's criminal record," and will cover the practical measures to be taken when a staff member is found to have a criminal record in light of the Japanese version of DBS, as well as the system required of a preschool from a practical perspective.
Background
With the Japanese version of the DBS (Japanese version of the criminal background check system) coming into effect on December 25, 2026, measures against sexual assault of children have become a "no-wait" situation in the field of childcare and early childhood education.
On the other hand,
- Sexual assault of children continues unabated
- In many cases, the victimized children themselves are unable to properly verbalize the damage.
- In some cases, due to human relations and psychological hurdles, suspicions and discomfort are not easily shared or reported within the park.
This is a reality, and the difficulty of making decisions and the weight of responsibility for the park's site and management are increasing every year.
In addition, many managers have concerns and questions about what systems they should put in place as a preschool if a staff member's criminal record is revealed by the Japanese version of DBS.
If one day you suddenly receive a report that there may have been inappropriate behavior,
From that moment on, the manager is faced with a series of extremely difficult decisions.
- What should be the top priority?
- To whom and when to explain.
- When and how should I consult with the police or government?
A mishandled situation could lead to secondary damage to children and a loss of trust in the preschool.
In this seminar, we will discuss "initial response to problems" and "preparation for normal times and safety systems, including the Japanese version of DBS," as practical points to keep in mind as a manager while placing the safety of children as the top priority.
Outline of the event～Common to all two sessions
Date & Time: [Session 1] Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Second Session] Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Holding formatWebinar by ZOOM
entrance feeFree of charge
subject (of taxation, etc.)Management of nursery schools, kindergartens, and children's schools: managers, directors, and persons in charge of corporate headquarters, etc.
How to applyPlease register from the seminar details page below.
*Seminars are offered in batches of two sessions, but you may attend only those sessions in which you are interested.
Seminar Details
Part 1: What If You Receive a Report of Sexual Assault (Abuse)? ～What to keep in mind when responding to a report of sexual assault (abuse)
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 12:00-12:45 p.m.
lecturer:
Attorney Yasuyori Iwatsuki
(Partner, Matsuda Sogo Law Office / Member of Tokyo Bar Association)
As a former public prosecutor, he worked for about 8 years in the Tokyo, Yokohama, Fukuoka, and Niigata District Public Prosecutors Offices. After engaging in criminal practice, he joined Matsuda & Matsuda in 2013. As an attorney, he handles a wide range of cases including corporate misconduct cases, automated driving and food safety management, and crisis response cases. In the field of education and welfare, including nursery schools and kindergartens, he continuously conducts training and seminars on safety measures and risk response, providing practical knowledge that is useful for on-site decision making.
Program Description:
1. points of initial response
Various origins of the report
Organize risks based on worst-case scenarios.
Fact-finding and recording methods to be used in the early stages of the project
2. handling of interested parties
Protection of the affected children and explanation to their parents
Response to alleged perpetrator (staff member)
Explanation to other parents and consideration of "extra" crimes
3. interviewing infants and preserving evidence
Difficulties in interviewing young children and the concept of judicial interviewing
Collection of objective evidence such as security camera and smartphone data
Confidentiality, privacy, and human rights
4. key points for reporting to the police and government
Organizing the Obligation to Report Abuse, etc.
Outline of investigation procedures by the police
5. establishment of a safety system
Concept of Checking System
Training Programs for Staff
Part 2: What if a staff member's criminal record is revealed? -Practical Japanese version of DBS
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 12:00-12:45
lecturer:
Attorney Minami Suzuki
(Partner, Matsuda Sogo Law Office / Member of Tokyo Bar Association)
Graduated from the University of Tokyo Law School. After working at a law firm in Tokyo, he was appointed as a Litigator at the Central Labor Relations Commission Secretariat of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (2017-2020) and joined Matsuda & Associates (2020-). He specializes in general personnel and labor matters and legal affairs related to nursery schools and kindergartens. In the area of day-care centers and kindergartens, he provides advice on safety management, handling accidents, dealing with parents, and other labor issues that are unique to the industry. He is the co-author of "Revised Q&A: Legal Counseling for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens" (co-author) and many other publications.
Program Contents
Outline of the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Law (Japanese version of DBS)
Establishment of a system for the prevention of sexual violence
Verification of criminal record
Investigation in case of incident
Information Management
2. method of criminal record inquiry
New hires and tenured staff
Response
3. what to do if you actually find out about the conviction
Who to share information with and whether it is acceptable to do so
Consideration of reassignment and termination of employment
4. what businesses should do now to prepare for the implementation of the system
Points to keep in mind when hiring
Regulations development and training
Establishment of consultation and crisis management systems
The purpose of this seminar is to organize the key points of decision-making that you may face as a manager or director, while keeping the safety of children as the top priority. We hope that you will find this seminar useful in your day-to-day management of the preschool and as a help in preparing for any contingencies that may arise.
Contact Us
We look forward to welcoming you to our seminars and legal consultations.
〒100-0004
10F Taisei Otemachi Building, 1-1, Otemachi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-3272-0101
fax: 03-3272-0102
メール：seminar3@jmatsuda-law.com
H P: http://www.jmatsuda-law.com/
