Two weeks in jail for a streetfight, but up to 15 years in prison for sexual harassment is insane. So this is a flipping LIE. I'm reading the Japanese Law #208 right now it says you can very well go up to 2 years imprisonment (with labor) or a fine of up to ¥30 0000 (≈ $3 000) for 暴行 (Assault), and up to 15 years imprisonment or a fine up to ¥50 0000 (≈ $5 000) for 傷害 (Bodily Injuries). As for touching someone's butt in public transit, hell the law doesn't even EXIST for that!
So why are Japanese people being arrested and going to prison for touching butts in public trains then?
Well, according to lawyers in Tokyo¹, it was always difficult to arrest people in Japan for touching butts in public trains because the closest law for that was 強制わいせつ (Indecency through Compulsion) and that one needed the indecency to come with intimidation or force. (for example, "I'll shoot your head with this gun if you don't let me touch your butt" is a federal crime, but "I'm touching your butt because I wanted to" isn't).
However, in the recent years, Japanese Prefectures has started implementing Prefectural Laws (known as "Ordinances" in law jargon; basically equivalent to the "State Laws" in US) that prohibits butt touching. These laws, usually called 迷惑防止条例 "Nuisance Prevention Ordinances" or something similar, has been around for a while (since 1962), but the addition of butt touching prevention is recent. While the exact name of the ordinances and its code differs from prefecture to prefecture, this one here is an excerpt from the Tokyo Prefecture's "Ordinance on the Prevention of Violent and Delinquent Behavior that causes Serious Inconveniences to the Public":Article 5: No person shall, without justifiable reason, commit any of the following acts which cause another person to feel extremely embarrassed or anxious:
1. Touching another person's body, either directly or over the clothing or other clothing worn in a public place or on public conveyance.The penalty for touching people's butts in Tokyo Metro is up to 6 months imprisonment or fine up to ¥50 0000 (≈ $5 000) for first offense, and up to one year imprisonment or fine up to ¥100 0000 (≈ $10 000). Not 15 years!
1. Reading: https://www.hachioji-keijijiken.kokoro-group.com/info/chikan/meiwakuboushi/#:~:text=もともと刑法には、他人に対するわいせつ行為を取り締まる不同意わいせつ罪(旧:強制わいせつ罪)があります。
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川音리오@かわねすきー (rio@kawane.misskey.online)'s status on Saturday, 14-Jun-2025 00:31:12 JST 川音리오@かわねすきー