Society

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

TOKYO, Dec 20 (News On Japan) - Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

According to the white paper, there were 703,351 recognized cases of penal code offenses last year, a 17% increase compared to the previous year, marking a rise for the second year in a row.

Among these, recognized cases of non-consensual intercourse surged by 63.8% from the previous year to 2,711 cases, while non-consensual indecency increased by 29.5% to 6,096 cases.

The increase is attributed to the enforcement of the revised penal code in July last year, which redefined "forced intercourse" as "non-consensual intercourse" and broadened its legal criteria. Efforts to create a more supportive environment for reporting sexual offenses are also considered contributing factors.

Additionally, cases of special fraud rose for the third consecutive year.

Source: ANN

Hokkaido Shinkansen Sapporo Extension Delayed by 12 Years

The long-delayed extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo is facing further setbacks, with the opening now pushed back by more than a decade and total project costs projected to more than double, even as construction steadily advances on the ground.

Water Gushes From Kasumigaseki Station

Water erupted from near the ceiling of an underground passage inside Tokyo Metro’s Kasumigaseki Station in Chiyoda Ward at around 6:00 p.m. on January 14th, in what the operator believes was caused by a burst water supply pipe.

Hokkaido to Ease Brown Bear Alerts

Hokkaido is set to relax the criteria for issuing its so-called “brown bear alert,” making it possible to release warnings even before human injuries occur, as the prefecture seeks to respond more flexibly to the early appearance of dangerous animals.

Japan Welcomes New Generation of Adults

Ceremonies celebrating those turning 20 were held across Japan on January 12th, with events taking place nationwide to mark Coming of Age Day.

China Begins Restricting Rare Earth Exports to Japan, U.S. Paper Reports

The Wall Street Journal reported on January 8th, citing two Chinese exporters, that the Chinese government has started imposing limits on shipments of rare earths and related materials bound for Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Missing Nurse Sent Message About Spending New Year’s Eve With Boyfriend

A woman’s body was discovered inside the wall of a restaurant in the town of Hidaka, Hokkaido, in a case that has led to the arrest of the restaurant’s owner, with new details emerging about the circumstances of the discovery and the relationship between the two.

Princess Aiko Recites Waka on Memories of Laos

The annual New Year imperial poetry ceremony, known as Utakai Hajime, was held at the Imperial Palace, where Princess Aiko’s waka poem was recited publicly for the first time and Prince Hisahito made his debut appearance at the traditional event.

Ainu Stand Up to Discrimination

A preview trailer has been released for the Hokkaido Fact program “Ainu and the Majority: Who Stands Up to Discrimination,” scheduled to air on January 18th, 2026, from 3:54 p.m. to 4:24 p.m., examining how the structure of thinking around discrimination is beginning to change.