Japan – June 2023

On June 16, Parliament passed a bill raising the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, a limit that had been unchanged since 1907. The bill expands the definition of nonconsensual sex, criminalizes voyeurism, and clarifies rape prosecution requirements. Critics and rights advocates have long pointed out the deficiencies within Japan's legal framework in failing to protect women and children from sexual exploitation. The change was allegedly prompted by the "Flower Demo" protests spanning four years, condemning sexual violence and rape case acquittals. While generally hailed as a positive development, certain rights experts have raised concerns with some of the bill's problematic clauses i.e., the exemption of teen couples where partners are less than five years apart, among other things. One crucial avenue still required is the implementation of educational initiatives that ingrain the concept that sexual intercourse without consent is a crime.

Sources: Japan Times, NPR, The Guardian