- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,056
- 18,910
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 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.
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.