|
Japan Crime
The National Police Agency divids crime into six main
categories. Felonies--the most serious and carrying the
stiffest
penalties--includes murder and conspiracy to murder,
robbery, rape,
and arson. Violent offenses consist of unlawful assembly
while
possessing a dangerous weapon, simple and aggravated
assault,
extortion, and intimidation. Larceny encompasses burglary,
vehicle
theft, and shoplifting. Crimes classified as intellectual
include
fraud, embezzlement, counterfeiting, forgery, bribery, and
breach
of trust. Moral offenses include gambling, indecent
exposure, and
the distribution of obscene literature. Miscellaneous
offenses
frequently involve the obstruction of official duties,
negligence
with fire, unauthorized entry, negligent homicide or
injury (often
in traffic accidents), possession of stolen property, and
destruction of property. Special laws define other
criminal
offenses, among them prostitution, illegal possession of
swords and
firearms, customs violations, and possession of controlled
substances, including narcotics and marijuana.
In 1990 the police identified over 2.2 million Penal
Code
violations. Two types of violations--larceny (65.1 percent
of total
violations) and negligent homicide or injury as a result
of
accidents (26.2 percent)--accounted for over 90 percent of
criminal
offenses in Japan. Major crimes occur in Japan at a very
low rate.
In 1989 Japan experienced 1.3 robberies per 100,000
population,
compared with 48.6 for West Germany, 65.8 for Britain, and
233.0
for the United States; and it experienced 1.1 murder per
100,000
population, compared with 3.9 for West Germany, 9.1 for
Britain,
and 8.7 for the United States that same year. Japanese
authorities
also solve a high percentage of robbery cases (75.9
percent,
compared with 43.8 percent for West Germany, 26.5 percent
for
Britain, and 26.0 percent for the United States) and
homicide cases
(95.9 percent, compared with 94.4 percent for Germany,
78.0 percent
for Britain, and 68.3 percent for the United States).
An important factor keeping crime low is the
traditional
emphasis on the individual as a member of groups to which
he or she
must not bring shame. Within these groups--family,
friends, and
associates at work or school--a Japanese citizen has
social rights
and obligations, derives valued emotional support, and
meets
powerful expectations to conform. These informal social
sanctions
display remarkable potency despite competing values in a
changing
society. Other important factors keeping the crime rate
low are the
prosperous economy and a strict and effective weapons
control law.
Ownership of handguns is forbidden to the public, hunting
rifles
and ceremonial swords are registered with the police, and
the
manufacture and sale of firearms are regulated. The
production and
sale of live and blank ammunition are also controlled, as
are the
transportation and importation of all weapons. Crimes are
seldom
committed with firearms.
Despite Japan's status as a modern, urban nation--a
condition
linked by many criminologists to growing rates of
crime--the nation
does not suffer from steadily rising levels of criminal
activity.
Although crime continues to be higher in urban areas,
rates of
crime remain relatively constant nationwide, and rates of
violent
crime continue to decrease.
The nation is not problem free, however; of particular
concern
to the police are crimes associated with modernization.
Increased
wealth and technological sophistication has brought new
whitecollar crimes, such as computer and credit card fraud,
larceny
involving coin dispensers, and insurance falsification.
Incidence
of drug abuse is minuscule, compared with other
industrialized
nations and limited mainly to stimulants. Japanese law
enforcement
authorities endeavor to control this problem by extensive
coordination with international investigative
organizations and
stringent punishment of Japanese and foreign offenders.
Traffic
accidents and fatalities consume substantial law
enforcement
resources.
Juvenile delinquency, although not nearly as serious as
in most
industrialized nations, is of great concern to the
authorities. In
1990 over 52 percent of persons arrested for criminal
offenses
(other than negligent homicide or injuries) were
juveniles. Over 70
percent of the juveniles arrested were charged with
larceny, mainly
shoplifting and theft of motorcycles and bicycles. The
failure of
the Japanese education system to address the concerns of
nonuniversity-bound students is cited as an important
factor in the
rise of juvenile crime
(see Primary and Secondary Education
, ch.
3).
The yakuza (underworld) had existed in Japan
well before
the 1800s and followed codes based on bushido.
Their early
operations were usually close-knit, and the leader and
gang members
had father-son relationships. Although this traditional
arrangement
continues to exist, yakuza activities are
increasingly
replaced by modern types of gangs that depend on force and
money as
organizing concepts. Nonetheless, yakuza often
picture
themselves as saviors of traditional Japanese virtues in a
postwar
society, sometimes forming ties with right-wing groups
espousing
the same views and attracting dissatisfied youths to their
ranks.
Yakuza groups in 1990 were estimated to number
more than
3,300 and together contained more than 88,000 members.
Although
concentrated in the largest urban prefectures,
yakuza
operate in most cities and often receive protection from
highranking officials in exchange for their assistance in
keeping the
crime rate low by discouraging criminals operating
individually or
in small groups. Following concerted police pressure in
the 1960s,
smaller gangs either disappeared or began to consolidate
in
syndicate-type organizations. In 1990, three large
syndicates
dominated underworld crime in the nation and controlled
more than
1,600 gangs and 42,000 gangsters.
Data as of January 1994
|
