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

Japan’s parliament made a significant change on Friday by raising the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, which was previously one of the lowest in the world. The decision came after demands for increased protection of children and women. The modification was part of a broader effort to overhaul laws concerning sex crimes. However, activists criticized a separate law passed on the same day that aimed to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues, arguing that it did not guarantee equal rights for sexual minorities.

Japan has been slow to implement reforms that provide better protection for victims of sexual crimes and impose stricter punishments on offenders, largely due to the historical dominance of men in the legislative and judicial branches. In 2017, Japan made its first revisions to the criminal code on sexual crimes in over a century. The public expressed outrage due to a series of acquittals in sexual abuse cases and the increasing occurrence of non-consensual sexual images of girls and women, leading to the demand for new revisions.

The recent changes establish that sexual intercourse with individuals under the age of 16 is considered rape. The revised laws define eight scenarios of “consentless sex crimes,” a term that encompasses forced sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fear, or intimidation. Furthermore, they prohibit the filming, distribution, and possession of sexually exploitative images taken without consent.

The statute of limitations for sex crimes has been extended by five years, now allowing up to 10 years for consentless sexual intercourse. Perpetrators of this crime can face up to 15 years in prison, while those involved in “photo voyeurism” may be sentenced to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment.

One of the cases that triggered the demand for change occurred in Nagoya, where a father who raped his 19-year-old daughter was acquitted because the court ruled that although she did not give consent, she did not resist violently. This verdict sparked nationwide protests.

However, the newly enacted LGBTQ+ law has faced criticism for potentially undermining the rights of sexual minorities rather than promoting equality. Last-minute changes to the law were perceived as accommodating the opponents of transgender rights. Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations without legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. While support for same-sex marriage and other rights has grown among the Japanese public, opposition within the governing Liberal Democratic Party, which upholds conservative values and hesitates to advocate for gender equality and sexual diversity, remains strong.

The final version of the law states that “unjust discrimination” is unacceptable but falls short of explicitly banning discrimination. It emphasizes the need to create conditions that allow “all citizens to live with peace of mind,” which activists argue demonstrates that the governing party prioritized the concerns of opponents of equal rights over the rights of sexual minorities.

Minori Tokieda, a transgender woman, expressed concern about how the law perceives the LGBTQ+ community as a potential threat to people’s sense of safety. She stated, “The law does not acknowledge our experiences and instead appeases those who cause us harm.”

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• Japan raises age of consent from 13 to 16
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• Criticism of LGBTQ+ law in Japan
• Gender equality and sexual diversity in Japan