Lower house passes bill to reform law on sex crimes

While the changes will make sexual intercourse with a person under 16 illegal regardless of consent, an exception is provided for cases in which an individual aged 17 or older engages in intercourse with someone four or fewer years younger than them.

So youths can still consent in the following cases:

17-year-old with anyone aged 13 or older 

18-year-old with anyone aged 14 or older

19-year-old with anyone aged 15 or older

20-year-old with anyone aged 16 or older

My guess is that legislators did not feel comfortable outlawing youthful sexual exploration.

Putting such legal limitations to natural interactions. I don't think age shall be a concern when voluntary.

And upskirting a crime ? Let's not go full reverse to what it was a few years ago, ie not illegal.

And the difficulty so far is the recognition of the bad actions from men, not the lack of law itself.

Jonathan PrinToday 07:09 am JST

Putting such legal limitations to natural interactions. I don't think age shall be a concern when voluntary.

Oh yeah? You think upskirting and paying a 14 year old for sex is "natural interaction", huh? Cause that is what was outlawed, dude.

And yes, upskirting has always been a crime. This just applies a new penalty. About damn time.

Well Asiaman7 do they have a choice? with the birthrate so low they need to be pushing it more almost.

Good!

The exception must have been a really odd discussion point. Why not just apply a blanket rule but assume kids will be kids sometimes.

Japan's lower house on Tuesday passed a bill to raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 to protect children from sexual abuse

Sitll WAY TOO LOW! I think it should at least be 18 or 19 because what decision can a 16yo make without a sound mind? Of course they can make some decisions that they think are good decisions, but others would advise against. I just think it's WAY TOO LOW!

This is an official national change btw, most municipalities have had these changes for decades

These changes are long overdue and bring Japan inline with much of the world however, it is interesting to note that society is changing faster than human biology. The average 15 year old female is now more fertile than the average 30 year old.

Many schoolgirls rely on sugardaddies.

reform for the better and then they build in a back door…….shame on these people.

Many schoolgirls rely on sugardaddies.

And the people who pay them are pedophiles.

Meanwhile, the statute of limitations for prosecution will be extended to 15 years from 10 years for nonconsensual intercourse

Nonconsensual sex is rape. Call it what is!

Hopefully the changes in these laws will also be backed up with severe prison terms for these rock spiders.

They should criminalize it because way too many older men think it's okay for them to take advantage of, and have sex with young girls - and those girls need protection from those men.

When are you going to learn to stop cherry-picking posts, all the while you are standing on your soap box?

You are now openly FOR criminalizing sex for teenagers at age 17. The world needs protection from women like you it seems, who dont stop and comprehend what they are reading before commenting.

And I'm not a prude, and neither are the other people here. We just don't want to have sex with teenagers, as they can't fully make good decisions. Adults have no business interfering with the natural development of a young person's sexuality. Leave. The teenage girls. Alone.

Everything went right over your head.

YubaruToday 09:39 am JST

When are you going to learn to stop cherry-picking posts, all the while you are standing on your soap box?

Cherry picking means to select only the data that support's ones points. I have not done that.

As for my soapbox, well, why are you here, unless it is to have a soapbox? Pot, kettle, back.

You are now openly FOR criminalizing sex for teenagers at age 17. The world needs protection from women like you it seems, who dont stop and comprehend what they are reading before commenting.

No. I am for criminalizing adult men (20+) from having sex with teen girls (16-). I said nothing whatsoever about 17 year olds, and neither does the law. I perfectly well comprehend; there is no need for puerile insults.

Everything went right over your head.

Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast - I would catch it.

Cherry picking means to select only the data that support's ones points. I have not done that.

If I may chime in here, you only post on any article where it has something to do with men abusing women, gays/lesbians/transgender or the whole alphabet soup sandwich trend-like fiasco. Never on anything articles on this site pertaining to political, murders, child abuse, entertainment, world events, theft/burglaries, crimes (family murders, mothers and their newborn). You'd praise feminists/lesbians/women, but say nothing about those women who commit crimes, terminate their newborn babies, abuse their children. I'd like to think that this is a very close definition of "cherry picking".

If it doesnt fit the feminist adgenda, downvote it. If someone disagrees with a feminist post, it gets the downvote.

Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast - I would catch it.

I don't think you caught that!

sir_bentley28June 2 10:08 am JST

Cherry picking means to select only the data that support's ones points. I have not done that.

If I may chime in here, you only post on any article where it has something to do with men abusing women, gays/lesbians/transgender or the whole alphabet soup sandwich trend-like fiasco.

That's not what cherry picking means.

And oh, what a shocker that a bisexual woman would be more likely to comment on stories about LBGTQIA and womens' issues when the comment section is full of both sexist and homophobic comments. Call the newspaper; much shock, so very surprise.

sir_bentley28

May 31 10:46 am JST

Japan's lower house on Tuesday passed a bill to raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 to protect children from sexual abuse

Sitll WAY TOO LOW! I think it should at least be 18 or 19 because what decision can a 16yo make without a sound mind?

Well, the human mind doesn't fully develop til 25 at least, and some need doctorates, so perhaps make the age of consent 30. Anyone who so much as thinks of touching a 29 year old (doesnt matter if he/she wants as a 29 year old is below the age of consent and cannot legally consent) will be Labelled a you-know-what.