Japan sees sharp rise in serious sex offenses in 2022

By Anadolu Agency Staff

ANKARA (AA) – Japan saw a sharp increase in the number of serious sex offenses in 2022 compared to the previous year, with cases involving violence or threats rising by 9.9%, government data showed.

The number of cases involving forced intercourse climbed to 19.3% compared to that in 2021, according to the data released Thursday by the National Police Agency.

The cases of rapes and other types of sexual assault also increased for the second straight year, Kyodo News Agency reported, citing the latest data.

An unnamed police official attributed the rise to "growing awareness" about sex crimes and the development of a dedicated system to accept reports and consultations by victims.

The Japanese government has set up support centers across the country to offer consultations to victims of sex crimes and violence, providing assistance such as helping them undergo examinations and counseling, and reporting incidents to police and lawyers, the agency reported.

The number of consultations in fiscal 2021 ending last March shot to 14.9% from the previous year.

With an increase of 5.9%, a total of 608,389 criminal offenses were reported in Japan in 2022, marking the first expansion in 20 years, according to government figures.