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Japan Family Rebirth Center (JAFAREC) hereby announces the grand opening of “Ten-Sho-An” on August 8th (Saturday), in City of Nantan, a rural region of Kyoto prefecture. The multipurpose family support facility aims to expand the range of support and rehabilitation that the center offers to all its clients involved in domestic violence and abuse.
JAFAREC, since its foundation in 2003 to the present day, has adopted men’s therapy (originating from pro-feminist men’s movement) into the composite support for all of its clients, suffering from domestic violence, abuse, self-harm, “hikikomori” (acute social withdrawal), and other family/relationship issues, irrespective of their age or status: adults, children, gender, offender or victim. The composite support structure includes face-to-face counselling, group sessions, as well as offering shelters and protection, supporting visitations, cooking therapy, camping, and a range of other activities.
In Japan, the so-called “DV prevention law” (formally “Act on the Prevention of Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims”) was enforced in April 2001, which has since been amended several times to improve official protocol and support system for victims. On the other hand, according to the official report from the National Police Agency in 2020, titled “Current response status on stalking and spousal violence cases, 2019”*1, the reported domestic violence cases continue to be on the rise. More recently in the current Covid-19 crisis, in addition to the domestic violence cases, the increase in the number of other abuse and assault cases are also reported from local authorities.
*1 “Current response status on stalking and spousal violence cases, 2019” (Japanese only):
https://www.npa.go.jp/news/release/2020/20200305001.html
In response to such social background, our center has decided to open Ten-Sho-An, which incorporates the element of activity-based therapy into the existing men’s therapy, offering a diverse range of activities such as training camp, farming, gardening, and animal therapy. Combined with the offering of familial functions such as meal-time gathering, our therapy and support system aims for the true recovery of our clients, enabling them: to better understand their emotion and surrounding situation; to change their behavior accordingly; to restore their own rich and open life by themselves.
Please contact us for details about Ten-Sho-An, including booking and general enquiries, via:
Enquiry form: https://jafarec.com/contact/
■ Men’s Therapy
Majority of counseling methods have attributed the causes of domestic abuse and other life issues to the problems of individuals concerned. Men’s therapy, as proposed by Michiaki Ajisawa, the representative of JAFAREC, practices support and counseling of clients focusing on the viewpoint of clients themselves, attributing the causes to the social problems arising from wide-spread power control structure, taking into account the current state of Japanese society. Thus, the theory behind the therapy is based on the assumption that every client, who are part of the society, can have the attribute of both victim and offender (and hence abandons such labeling), which allows facilitators to fully sympathize with the clients, enabling them to see the meaning behind every experience and positive aspects of life events.
■ The Philosophy of Support and Care at JAFAREC
Back in the 1990s, developed from support centers such as “Men’s anxiety hotline” and “Men’s anti-violence groupwork” based on the ideas behind men’s liberation movement, the “Men’s support room” was created. This was farther expanded to provide support and care for all genders, not regarding gender difference as the cause of relationship problems. Thus JAFAREC was established in 2003. The center offers counselling and workshops, as well as providing shelters and supporting visitations, all without external contractors or funding. The support structure is entirely client-focused, also encouraging mutual support and care amongst themselves. In addition, the center incorporates the familial functions that are being lost in the modern society into its therapy and counseling. Such at-home environment nurtures the clients, helping their mental regrowth, and alleviates their violent characteristic, which often arise from lack of care and love in their upbringing.
Domestic violence, physical or mental, is about the power control imposed by the strong on the weak; such power and authority structure exists in every culture. However, the violence resulting from power control cannot be prevented simply by enacting relevant laws. The clients benefiting from our “men’s therapy” return to society with renewed respect for individuals, waiving their power control. Their individual contribution may be small, but over time they can help to reform the power-free society. In the century with every increasing conflicts and divisions, what the world needs the most is the relationship between individuals that is free from power control, and restore the familial, caring functions back into society.
■ Michiaki Ajisawa
One of the forerunners of the men’s liberation movement in Japan in 1990s, continuing to advocate pro-feminism men’s movement and offering client-focused counseling. Founded the JAFAREC in 2003 and continues to be the representative. At the center, he has carried out well over 7,000 counseling sessions by himself, as well as offering shelters and visitation support. Also offers weekly workshops in Kyoto and Osaka, as well as extended sessions in Tokyo every month, totaling over 1,500 sessions to date.
■ About JAFAREC
Japan Family Rebirth Center (JAFAREC) is supporting domestic abuse victims and offenders. Since its foundation in 2003 to the present day, the center has adopted men’s therapy (originating from pro-feminist men’s movement) into the composite support for all of its clients, suffering from domestic violence, abuse, self-harm, “hikikomori” (acute social withdrawal), and other family/relationship issues, irrespective of their age or status; adults, children, gender, abuser or victim. The composite support structure includes face-to-face counselling, group sessions, as well as offering shelters and protection, supporting visitations, cooking therapy, camping, and a range of other activities.
For more information, visit:
About JAFAREC | Domestic Violence Therapy Japan
JAFAREC (Japan Family Rebirth Center) is supporting domestic abuse victims and offenders. Since its foundation in 2003 to the present day, the center has adopted men’s therapy (originating from pro-feminist men’s movement) into the composite support for all of its clients, suffering from domestic violence, abuse, self-harm, “hikikomori” (acute social withdrawal), and other family/relationship issues, irrespective of their age or status; adults, children, gender, abuser or victim. The composite support structure includes face-to-face counselling, group sessions, as well as offering shelters and protection, supporting visitations, cooking therapy, camping, and a range of other activities.
For more information, visit:
