Japanese schoolchildren make their way home in Tokyo. Japan's education ministry said Friday that there were at least 38,000 underground websites linked to schools, some of which have become notorious for hate-filled postings by bullies.

Japan's education ministry said Friday that there were at least 38,000 underground websites linked to schools, some of which have become notorious for hate-filled postings by bullies.

Bullying has long been a major educational issue in Japan due to concerns over the high suicide rate among schoolchildren who are picked on.

The problem has recently turned more high-tech, with hurtful messages being posted on impromptu websites, which students read but bullies can write anonymously.

Efforts to clamp down on the sites have proved difficult as they can be shut down and re-established quickly.

The education ministry conducted the first survey of its kind in an attempt to fully grasp the extent of the sites, which are based around individual schools but not run by them.

"The so-called 'unofficial' homepage issue has received tremendous public attention and interest, but no one really knew the exact nature of those websites' styles, content, and number," a ministry official said.

"In our interim report, we found at least 38,000 unofficial websites about schools," he said, adding that the ministry will look at the content as it drafts a full report on the issue.

Nearly all young Japanese are Internet users. And a recent survey showed that 96 percent of high school students have mobile telephones, which can usually access the Internet.

© 2008 AFP