Recent developments in Japan are placing increasing social pressure on families of individuals deemed responsible for infractions or crimes. This pressure, applied indirectly, is taking a toll on their livelihoods and mental wellbeing. Covering a wide range of contexts, from serious criminal offenses to social misconduct, this societal trend is straining the cultural fabric of the society and raises critical questions about the concept of individual responsibility versus the collective.

In Japan, family ties and harmony are deeply ingrained in the social fabric. As such, when a member of a family commits a wrongdoing, the impact often reverberates throughout the entire family. The idea of collective responsibility can often permeate judgement, leading to social stigma and ostracism. This collective blame on families of offenders reveals deep societal attitudes toward crime and responsibility.

In comparison to the US or EU, Japan's approach emphasizes collective responsibility to a greater extent. While in the West, crimes are more individualized and the social blame rarely extends to the family members unless they were directly involved, Japan's case holds families in the ripple of consequences.