Japanese sitting style to be recognized as punishment under new law

A welfare ministry panel said Tuesday that forcing children to sit extensively in the formal Japanese style known as "seiza" will be recognized as a morally unacceptable form of punishment under a new law that will enter into force next April.The panel has been compiling guidelines following revision of the child abuse prevention law in June in response to a number of fatal cases in which parents or guardians physically abused children in the process of disciplining them.The seiza style -- in which a person kneels on the floor and sits back resting their buttocks on their heels with the top…READ FULL ARTICLE