[bots]

A panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry has proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16.

It forms part of a wider overhaul of Japan's laws on sex crimes, after multiple rape acquittals in 2019 caused outcry.

The proposal also aims to criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape.

The statute of limitations for reporting rape will also be increased to 15 from 10 years.

Currently, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, and the lowest in the G7 group.

In Germany and Italy the age is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many US states it is 16.

The current law in Japan means victims of rape need to prove that there was "violence and intimidation" used during the rape and that it was "impossible to resist" to secure a conviction.

The panel has not changed this wording but instead added other factors including intoxication, drugging, being caught off guard and psychological control into the definition.

Justice Ministry official Yusuke Asanuma said that this "isn't meant to make it easier or harder" for victims to win a rape case but that it should make verdicts "more consistent".

The re-examination of the sex crime laws comes after widespread demonstrations in 2019 following a number of acquittals. One case saw a man go free after being accused of having sex with his teenaged daughter, even though the court agreed that it was against her will. He was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.

Another saw a man found not guilty of raping a woman who had passed out from drinking because he "misunderstood" that she consented to having sex.

The government could pass the law as early as summer. Despite the potential change to the age of consent, an exception will still exist for intercourse between people who are at least 13 and who have an age gap of less than five years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64703519

[Oliver_W]

tbh it should be eighteen everywhere.

You can't die for your country, vote, get married without parental consent, or smoke and drink until you're officially an adult, so yahhh.

[bots]

i was surprised that Germany and Italy were 14

[Mystic Mock]

Tbf at a local level Japan has enforced this change for years at this point, and rightly so.

This change that they're doing is at a Federal level.

I'm only clarifying this just so people don't think that Japan are the Paedo nation.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

tbh it should be eighteen everywhere.

You can't die for your country, vote, get married without parental consent, or smoke and drink until you're officially an adult, so yahhh.

You're never going to stop kids from experimenting but yes IMO it should be a hard limit of 18 if engaging in sexual activity with anyone over the age of 21. Under 18 decriminalised IF both people are around the same age - which wouldn't make it legal, but would stop daft things like a 19 year old ending up on the sex offenders register for having a 17 year old boy/girlfriend, or two 15 year olds both breaking the law if they have sex.

[user104658]

... ... ... my more hard-line impulse would also say, no one over 30 with anyone under 21. But I don't think that's ever going to fly, unfortunately. We have this bizarre idea that 18 year olds are full adults when they're... well... clearly teenagers.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

You're never going to stop kids from experimenting but yes IMO it should be a hard limit of 18 if engaging in sexual activity with anyone over the age of 21. Under 18 decriminalised IF both people are around the same age - which wouldn't make it legal, but would stop daft things like a 19 year old ending up on the sex offenders register for having a 17 year old boy/girlfriend, or two 15 year olds both breaking the law if they have sex.

Agreed.

I don't think most prosecutors or cops would be particularly bothered by a sixteen year old and their 15 year old partner doing stuff, as long as there's no coercion or whatever; but I think as you say there should be specific protections in place.

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

... ... ... my more hard-line impulse would also say, no one over 30 with anyone under 21.

I agree that it would never fly, but I'd like it to be discussed so we could see who strongly objects to it

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

You're never going to stop kids from experimenting but yes IMO it should be a hard limit of 18 if engaging in sexual activity with anyone over the age of 21. Under 18 decriminalised IF both people are around the same age - which wouldn't make it legal, but would stop daft things like a 19 year old ending up on the sex offenders register for having a 17 year old boy/girlfriend, or two 15 year olds both breaking the law if they have sex.

I agree with that. The age of consent really is (or should be) to protect young people from being preyed upon by older people. 13 is horrifically low though. It's 17 here in Ireland

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Agreed.

I don't think most prosecutors or cops would be particularly bothered by a sixteen year old and their 15 year old partner doing stuff, as long as there's no coercion or whatever; but I think as you say there should be specific protections in place.

I agree that it would never fly, but I'd like it to be discussed so we could see who strongly objects to it

[Livia]

Possessing child pornography has only been illegal in Japan since 2014.

[UserSince2005]

Given France and Germany are lower than UK presumably its more progressive for it to be lower than 16

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

tbh it should be eighteen everywhere.

You can't die for your country, vote, get married without parental consent, or smoke and drink until you're officially an adult, so yahhh.

Exactly

It's daft , should be 18 everywhere for sure .

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

Possessing child pornography has only been illegal in Japan since 2014.

That's in particular a real issue with Manga Authors.