https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...o-criminalize-sex-with-children-under-16.html
feb 18 2023 The Japanese government plans to criminalize sex with children under age 16 by raising the legal age of consent from 13, part of the country's Penal Code reforms, which critics say are long overdue and urgently needed to protect vulnerable minors from sexual offenses.
The recommendations the Justice Ministry's Legislative Council submitted to Justice Minister Ken Saito on Friday include making the secret filming of someone's genitals or underwear and sharing such images an offense punishable under the Penal Code.
Makoto Ida (R), chairman of the Legislative Council, submits proposed revisions to the Penal Code to Justice Minister Ken Saito in Tokyo on Feb. 17, 2023. (Kyodo)
Japan's current age of consent, which has remained unchanged since its enactment in 1907, is one of the lowest among developed nations. There have been calls to raise it to better reflect reality as sexual exploitation of minors has increasingly come into focus.
The age of consent is at least 16 in the United States, 16 in Britain, and 14 in Italy and China.
