🚗 Power Windows: Child Entrapment Alert

❓ What is happening?

On July 1, 2026 (updated August 5, 2026), Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center (NCAC) issued an alert about child accidents involving car power windows. A power window closes with a single switch and exerts strong force, so accidents occur when a child plays with the switch, or when a driver operates the window without checking where the glass and passengers are. Severe cases in which an infant's neck was caught and the child suffocated have been confirmed in at least 2 reported incidents over the past 3 years. NCAC previously issued alerts in April 1999, January 2003 and July 2010, and METI issued one in December 2010. This time NCAC ran a consumer survey and product tests, and sent requests to MLIT, METI and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Parents and guardians who drive with infants or young children
• ●Travelers using rental cars or car-sharing services in Japan
• ●Foreign residents in Japan who drive with children on board
• ●Grandparents or friends who occasionally carry other people's children

🌏 What this means for foreign residents and visitors

In Japan, child seats are legally required for children under 6 (Road Traffic Act), and rental car companies offer them as a booking option. When you drive an unfamiliar car while traveling or on a short stay, the location of the power window lock switch and whether anti-pinch protection is fitted differ by model, and the owner's manual is often only in Japanese. Before putting children in the car, ask at the rental counter where the lock switch is and how to use it.