TOKYO >> About 60 percent of people support a legal ban on physically punishing children, according to a recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

Fifty-nine percent of those polled favored the idea of legally prohibiting parents from physically punishing their children, while 24 percent opposed such a ban.

The nationwide poll was conducted in connection with bills submitted to the current Diet session by the government to revise the Child Abuse Prevention Law and other legislation.

Across the board in various age groups, the majority of those polled favor the ban.

Pollees ages 18 to 29 who supported the ban stood at nearly 70 percent, while supporters in their 30s to 60s were at about 50 percent. Sixty percent of those 70 and older backed the ban.