A recent case of stalking and femicide has reignited the conversation about Japan’s stalking laws. What was the case that led to the creation of the Anti-Stalking Act in the year 2000? How have things changed, if at all, in the past 25 years? What type of self defense is permitted in Japan?

TW (whole ep) stalking, DV, homicide

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Frankie - @franklinthewoman

Cheyenne - @lostwithlow

Words mentioned/useful words

nampa - picking up people, catcalling

交番 koban - police box

References/sources:

Japanese s*x pest jailed for stalking pop idol Ena Matsuoka using reflections in her eyes

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3052704/japanese-sex-pest-jailed-stalking-pop-idol-ena-matsuoka-using

Stalker 'found Japanese singer through reflection in her eyes'

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50000234 

Japan police admit mistakes in dealing with stalking that led to woman's death

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250904_14/

Stats from tell Japan

https://telljp.com/resources/stalking/

Parents of murdered stalking victim remain resolute 25 years later

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/27/japan/crime-legal/stalking-murder-victim-father/

Japan’s stalking crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehbNJoxhkG8

Ladies & The Law: The Murder That Resulted in Japan’s Anti-Stalking Act

https://savvytokyo.com/ladies-the-law-the-murder-that-resulted-in-japans-anti-stalking-act/#:~:text=Lifestyle-,Ladies%20&%20The%20Law:%20The%20Murder%20That%20Resulted,in%20Japan's%20Anti%2DStalking%20Act&text=At%20a%20little%20before%201,both%20her%20and%20her%20family.

Japanese Police Consider Changing Anti-Stalking Law After Murder

https://unseen-japan.com/japan-stalking-crackdown/#:~:text=Recent%20high%2Dprofile%20case%20spurs%20debate%20on%20stalking%20reforms,-Picture:%20Haru%20photography&text=She%20filed%20a%20complaint%20in,similar%20tragedies%20in%20the%20future.

Stalker enters house, what self-defense options are legal?

https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/c3b64o/legalcrime_castle_doctrine_in_japan_stalker/?share_id=WDRIOkhqe6EPCLw3IMZWP&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

Time stamps

00:00 hello/intro

02:19 TW (whole ep) stalking, DV, homicide

3:51 singer’s stalker found her through the reflection in her eye

4:49 personal experiences and that of friends

10:10 recent stalking/femic*de that’s reigniting the convo

15:25 stalking statistics

17:39 Japan’s anti-stalking act

19:05 case that led to the anti-stalking act

25:30 reporting to the police

27:07 consequences for stalking offenses

27:33 revisions to the anti stalking act?

33:13 stalking documentary

38:39 therapy for stalkers?

40:00 is stalking worse in Japan?

43:09 self defense