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The NHK World article titled “Japan’s ‘Sexual Consent Age’ Raised to 16” discusses a significant legal reform in Japan, where the age of sexual consent has been raised from 13 to 16 years old. This change aligns Japan with international standards and aims to enhance the protection of minors.
The article highlights that the previous age of consent, set at 13, was among the lowest globally and had been a subject of domestic and international criticism. The reform is part of a broader revision of Japan’s criminal code concerning sexual offenses, which also includes clearer definitions of rape and the introduction of non-consensual sexual intercourse as a punishable offense.
Advocates for the change argue that it strengthens legal safeguards for minors and reflects a growing societal consensus on the importance of consent and protection against sexual exploitation. The article also notes that while the legal age has been raised, certain close-in-age exemptions exist to prevent criminalizing consensual relationships among teenagers.
