One in three Japanese wives abused: Survey

One in three married Japanese women have been physically or mentally abused by their husbands, according to a government survey on domestic violence released.

One in three married Japanese women have been physically or mentally abused by their husbands, according to a government survey on domestic violence released on Tuesday.

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Of the victims over a third said they were injured or suffered mental harm, while more than 13 per cent said they feared for their lives, the poll by the Cabinet Office found.

The survey of 1,675 women found that 42 per cent of victims said they wanted to get divorced but would not, with many saying they hoped the violence would not be repeated and others worried about making ends alone.

More than 13 per cent of the women polled said they had experienced violence from their boyfriends when they were in their teens or 20s -- with almost half of these victims injured or suffering mental harm.

Seventy per cent of the women questioned said they would support better education about domestic violence, and 57 per cent backed tougher punishment for offenders.