Crime Crime in Japan rising for second consecutive year

[thomas]

Japan witnessed a concerning trend in 2023, with crime rates increasing for the second consecutive year. This upward trajectory follows a sustained decline since 2003, with crime numbers reaching postwar lows between 2015 and 2021, a period of hope for the nation. According to the government's annual white paper released on Friday, 703,351 crimes were reported in 2023, a 17% increase compared to the previous year. Concurrently, the number of cleared cases rose by 7.7%. Notably, the number of individual offenders apprehended by law enforcement also increased by 8.2%, marking the first increase in 19 years.

The white paper highlighted a particularly alarming rise in reported cases of non-consensual sexual intercourse, with a staggering 63.8% increase compared to the previous year. Reported cases of indecent assault also saw a substantial increase of 29.5%. Justice Ministry officials attributed these increases to the recent change in the legal age of consent and an improved environment for reporting such offences, underlining the importance of these changes in understanding the crime trend.

The numbers of cleared cases of child abuse, cybercrime and violations of the Cannabis Control Law all reached their highest levels since statistics began in 2000. In particular, 8,232 cleared cases of Cannabis Control Law violations were reported in 2023, a 19.5% increase from the previous year. The white paper noted that rising people between 20 and 29 were responsible for such cases, making up over half of the total. Cleared crime cases committed by foreign residents and visitors in 2023 also rose by 20% from the previous year, reaching 15,541. The paper also made mention of yami baito (illegal part-time jobs) and tokuryū (quasi-gangsters who thrive on anonymity and a lack of structure) for the first time, vowing greater efforts to investigate and tackle such crimes. According to Justice Ministry officials, the government hopes to include a more detailed analysis of such crimes next year as more data becomes available. This year's white paper also highlighted the status of female offenders and inmates in 2023. While 2023 women only represented slightly more than 10% of all new inmates, 22.7% were 65 and older, compared with 13.3% among males.

Crime numbers rise in Japan for second straight year

Crime numbers had been steadily declining since 2003, continuing to hit postwar lows from 2015 to 2021, before bouncing back in 2022.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[musicisgood]

Poverty comes with crime.

 

[mdchachi]

Poverty comes with crime.

Or maybe crime comes with poverty

 

[Petaris]

It seems like some of the increase may be related to an increase in crimes reported vs an actual increase in the crimes themselves. So perhaps the previous reports were artificially low and the easier reporting for some crimes now means that the report is getting closer to reporting the actual number of crimes.

Also, what change in the legal age of consent happened that would actually have made a difference here?

 

[mdchachi]

It seems like some of the increase may be related to an increase in crimes reported vs an actual increase in the crimes themselves. So perhaps the previous reports were artificially low and the easier reporting for some crimes now means that the report is getting closer to reporting the actual number of crimes.

Also, what change in the legal age of consent happened that would actually have made a difference here?

If legal ages goes up then statutory r#pe crime rate should go up. That is even if the young person doesn't want to press charges if they are underage their parents or the government could still do so.

 

[Petaris]

If legal ages goes up then statutory r#pe crime rate should go up. That is even if the young person doesn't want to press charges if they are underage their parents or the government could still do so.

I wasn't aware it had gone up. Is it higher than 18 now?

 

[salyavin]

I wasn't aware it had gone up. Is it higher than 18 now?

Japan raises the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, which was among the world's lowest

Japan's parliament has raised the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, a limit which had remained unchanged for more than a century and was among the world's lowest, amid calls for greater protection of children and women.

www.pbs.org

 

[thomas]

Legal Thread 'Sex crime law reform: age of consent in Japan raised from 13 to 16'

17 Jun 2023

Yesterday, Japan's House of Councillors unanimously enacted laws to criminalise non-consensual sexual acts, even without physical violence or coercion, and to raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 to protect children from abuse.

The revisions are partly intended to better clarify the illegality of nonconsensual sexual offenses such as rape. Rape was renamed "forcible sexual intercourse" when Japan revised its Penal Code in 2017. Sexual acts conducted in situations where a person may struggle to "form, express or fulfill the intention to resist" will also be subject to...

• thomas
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Japanese News & Hot Topics

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[Grandpa Frank]

Hard to believe they wouldn't settle on 18. (13 to 16) seems more fitting for a third world country. Maybe I'm just old fashioned?

 

[thomas]

Age of consent in some European countries:

• Most common ages: 15 and 16.
  • Lowest age: Some countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal set the age of consent at 14.
  • Highest age: Malta and Vatican City have the highest age of consent in Europe at 18.

Age of consent in Europe - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Consent for sexual activity with an adult

fra.europa.eu

 

[salyavin]

Hard to believe they wouldn't settle on 18. (13 to 16) seems more fitting for a third world country. Maybe I'm just old fashioned?

Maine is 16 as are 29 other states.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

A reminder how my memory isn't all that sharp these days , LOL.

 

[salyavin]

Things happen in high school you cannot legislate away even if us parents wish they would wait.

 

[Petaris]

Japan raises the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, which was among the world's lowest

Japan's parliament has raised the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, a limit which had remained unchanged for more than a century and was among the world's lowest, amid calls for greater protection of children and women.

www.pbs.org

Thanks, I forgot that the national age of consent was still that low. I remember reading that many prefectures had laws that made it effectively 18.