Date : July 11, 2025
Is Japan Truly Safe? The Gap Between Popular Perception and the Reality of Public Order in Japan (Prof. Koichi Hamai, Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Ryukoku University)
post date : 2025.07.15
Japan generally has a high level of public order, and is known worldwide as a safe country. Although the crime rate has maintained a low level, in recent years new issues have arisen, such as cybercrime and “special fraud” (phone or email fraud). The 2024 White Paper on Crime released by the Ministry of Justice noted the increase in cybercrime, special fraud, and yami baito (“dark part-time jobs”) with involvement by “anonymous/fluid criminal groups,” and concern over the state of public order has been growing in Japan. To maintain a high level of public order, what initiatives should be implemented?
The FPCJ has invited Prof. Koichi Hamai, a professor at the Ryukoku University Faculty of Law, to discuss whether Japan is really safe, and what the gap between reality and public perception reveals about public order in Japan.
Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.
Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also participate in the briefing as observers (admission free).
■Date: 10:30-12:00, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (Deadline for application: 12:00, Monday, July 28)
■Theme: Is Japan Truly Safe? The Gap Between Popular Perception and the Reality of Public Order in Japan
■Briefer: Prof. Koichi Hamai, Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Ryukoku University
Brief Bio: Born in 1960. Graduated from the Waseda University School of Education in 1984. After working at prisons and juvenile prisons as an employee of the Ministry of Justice, in 2005 he became a professor at Ryukoku University, before starting in his current position in 2017. He specializes in criminology.
■Language: Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation
As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.
■Members of the Foreign Press:
Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to cp@fpcjpn.or.jp by 12:00 on Thursday, July 24.
As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.
■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.