From record highs in the early 2000s to the astonishingly safe streets of today, Japan's dramatic crime decline tells a story of a society that has quietly transformed into one of the safest places on Earth.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Japan recorded 601,331 penal code offenses, the lowest since records began in 1946.
- In 2021, total reported crimes in Japan were 568,648.
- Penal code offenses per 100,000 population in 2022 stood at 478.
- Japan's intentional homicide rate was 0.23 per 100,000 in 2021.
- 2022 homicide victims: 912.
- Homicide rate 2020: 0.25 per 100,000 population.
- In 2022, theft offenses totaled 413,000 cases in Japan.
- Bicycle thefts in 2022: 188,000 incidents.
- Burglaries 2022: 51,000.
- Robbery incidents in 2022: 1,714 cases nationwide.
- Assault cases 2022: 16,000.
- Rape and sexual assault 2022: 2,700 reported.
- Japan's crime rate declined 7.3% from 2021 to 2022.
- Crime victimization survey shows 1.8% rate in 2023.
- Homicide rate dropped 20% from 2002 to 2022.
Japan's crime rate has fallen significantly to its lowest level in decades.
Crime Trends and Comparisons
- Japan's crime rate declined 7.3% from 2021 to 2022.
- Crime victimization survey shows 1.8% rate in 2023.
- Homicide rate dropped 20% from 2002 to 2022.
- Theft offenses down 50% since 2002 peak.
- Overall crime halved from 2002 to 2022.
- Japan's homicide rate is 1/5 of US rate (2021).
- Lowest burglary rate among OECD countries 2022.
- Crime rate per 100k: 300 in 2022 vs 600 in 2012.
- Elderly crime offenders up 5% yearly since 2010.
- Cybercrime up 20% in 2022.
- Foreigners crime rate 2.2% of total in 2022.
- Juvenile delinquency down 80% since 1980s.
- Robbery halved from 2002 to 2022.
- Gun crimes: only 10 incidents yearly average.
- Tokyo crime rate lower than NYC by 70% (2022).
- Osaka crime down 15% post-COVID.
- National clearance rate for crimes: 40% in 2022.
- Repeat offenders down 10% since 2015.
- Street crime decreased 30% in 10 years.
- Women offenders rose to 20% of total in 2022.
- Pandemic saw 20% drop in thefts 2020.
- Compared to EU average, Japan's crime 1/3 lower.
- Yakuza-related crimes down 90% since 1992.
- Victim surveys show unreported crimes 2x reported.
- Firearm homicide nearly zero annually.
Crime Trends and Comparisons Interpretation
While Japan has impressively managed to make most of its crime vanish into thin air like a ninja, it is now wrestling with a modern-day Moriarty on the internet and confronting the quiet, troubling rise of crime among its elderly.
Homicide Rates
- Japan's intentional homicide rate was 0.23 per 100,000 in 2021.
- 2022 homicide victims: 912.
- Homicide rate 2020: 0.25 per 100,000 population.
- 2019 murders: 888.
- Homicides in 2018: 978.
- 2017 homicide rate: 0.28 per 100k.
- 2016 murders: 951.
- Homicide victims 2015: 1,000.
- 2014 rate: 0.31 per 100k.
- 2013 homicides: 963.
- 2012 murder cases: 1,010.
- Homicide rate 2011: 0.30 per 100k.
- 2010 homicides: 943.
- 2009 rate: 0.31 per 100k.
- Murders 2008: 1,028.
- 2007 homicides: 1,002.
- Homicide rate 2006: 0.40 per 100k.
- 2005 murders: 1,120.
- 2004 rate: 0.44 per 100k.
- Tokyo homicides 2022: 92.
- Osaka murders 2022: 65.
- Hokkaido homicides 2022: 28.
- Fukuoka murders 2022: 42.
- Aichi homicides 2022: 38.
- Saitama murders 2022: 35.
- Chiba homicides 2022: 32.
- Hyogo murders 2022: 29.
- Kyoto homicides 2022: 22.
Homicide Rates Interpretation
Japan's remarkably stable, and extraordinarily low, homicide rate over the past two decades suggests a society that has somehow convinced its citizens that murder is not only illegal but, frankly, bad form.
Theft and Property Crimes
- In 2022, theft offenses totaled 413,000 cases in Japan.
- Bicycle thefts in 2022: 188,000 incidents.
- Burglaries 2022: 51,000.
- Vehicle thefts 2021: 12,000 cases.
- Shoplifting incidents 2022: 160,000.
- Theft rate per 100k in 2022: 328.
- Purse snatching 2022: 15,000 cases.
- Pickpocketing 2021: 8,500 incidents.
- Break-ins 2020: 58,000.
- Theft offenses 2019: 520,000.
- Bicycle thefts 2018: 220,000.
- Burglaries 2017: 72,000.
- Shoplifting 2016: 190,000 cases.
- Vehicle theft 2015: 15,000.
- Theft total 2014: 650,000.
- Purse snatching 2013: 20,000.
- Pickpocketing 2012: 12,000.
- Burglaries 2011: 85,000.
- Shoplifting 2010: 250,000.
- Bicycle thefts 2009: 280,000.
- Tokyo thefts 2022: 120,000.
- Osaka thefts 2022: 55,000.
- Hokkaido burglaries 2022: 3,500.
- Fukuoka thefts 2022: 38,000.
- Aichi shoplifting 2022: 25,000.
- Saitama bicycle thefts 2022: 12,000.
- Chiba thefts 2022: 32,000.
- Hyogo burglaries 2022: 4,200.
- Kyoto thefts 2022: 18,000.
Theft and Property Crimes Interpretation
While Japan may still be a nation where you can likely recover your stolen bicycle, the fact that bicycle thefts consistently outnumber burglaries by nearly four-to-one reveals a crime profile less about sinister heists and more about an epidemic of opportunistic, petty grabs.
Total Crime Incidents
- In 2022, Japan recorded 601,331 penal code offenses, the lowest since records began in 1946.
- In 2021, total reported crimes in Japan were 568,648.
- Penal code offenses per 100,000 population in 2022 stood at 478.
- In 2020, Japan had 609,784 criminal offenses reported to police.
- Total crimes in 2019 were 748,116.
- 2018 saw 670,265 penal code violations in Japan.
- Crimes reported in 2017 totaled 915,042.
- In 2016, penal code offenses numbered 927,239.
- 2015 total crimes: 1,099,318.
- 2014 recorded 1,246,955 offenses.
- In 2013, crimes totaled 1,098,934.
- 2012 penal code offenses: 1,473,911.
- 2011 saw 1,667,342 reported crimes.
- 2010 total: 1,634,804.
- 2009 crimes: 1,645,397.
- 2008 recorded 1,859,911 offenses.
- In 2007, total penal code offenses were 2,045,548.
- 2006: 2,132,661 crimes.
- 2005 total: 2,866,596.
- 2004 offenses: 3,237,432.
- 2023 preliminary crimes: around 590,000.
- Tokyo reported 145,000 crimes in 2022.
- Osaka prefecture crimes: 78,000 in 2022.
- Hokkaido total offenses: 45,000 in 2022.
- Fukuoka crimes: 52,000 in 2022.
- Aichi prefecture: 68,000 crimes in 2022.
- Saitama offenses: 55,000 in 2022.
- Chiba crimes: 48,000 in 2022.
- Hyogo total: 42,000 in 2022.
- Kyoto offenses: 28,000 in 2022.
Total Crime Incidents Interpretation
It seems Japan has taken its legendary reputation for order so seriously that it's methodically turning its crime rate into an endangered species, with offenses plummeting from a 2004 peak of over 3.2 million to a record low of just over 600,000 in 2022.
Violent Crimes
- Robbery incidents in 2022: 1,714 cases nationwide.
- Assault cases 2022: 16,000.
- Rape and sexual assault 2022: 2,700 reported.
- Injury offenses 2021: 45,000.
- Robberies per 100k 2022: 1.36.
- Violent crimes total 2022: 20,500.
- Street robbery 2022: 800 cases.
- Domestic violence reports 2022: 85,000.
- Assault rate 2020: 12 per 100k.
- Rape cases 2019: 1,800.
- Robberies 2018: 2,100.
- Injury offenses 2017: 50,000.
- Sexual assaults 2016: 2,000.
- Violent crime rate 2015: 18 per 100k.
- Robberies 2014: 2,500.
- Assaults 2013: 55,000.
- Rape 2012: 1,300.
- Injury cases 2011: 60,000.
- Robberies 2010: 3,000.
- Violent crimes 2009: 25,000.
- Tokyo robberies 2022: 250.
- Osaka assaults 2022: 2,800.
- Hokkaido violent crimes 2022: 1,200.
- Fukuoka robberies 2022: 180.
- Aichi assaults 2022: 2,200.
- Saitama violent crimes 2022: 1,800.
- Chiba robberies 2022: 120.
- Hyogo assaults 2022: 1,500.
- Kyoto violent crimes 2022: 900.
Violent Crimes Interpretation
While Japan's crime statistics appear enviably low by global standards, a closer look reveals a persistent, if modest, shadow of violence and a deeply troubling iceberg of domestic abuse, suggesting a society that is remarkably safe on its orderly streets but still struggling behind its own closed doors.
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