Dramatic Protest Lights Up Japan
People across Japan are taking to the streets for the sixth rally in as many months because the country’s outdated rape laws are still a liability. The outrage started when a man was let off the hook for sexually assaulting his daughter for years—yikes.
Case in Point
- The guy in question is alleged to have abused his child from about age 13 to 19.
- The court did confirm that the daughter was forced to have intercourse “against her will.”
- Despite that, he was acquitted because the law demands proof of “overwhelming force,” a threat, or total incapacitation.
- He’s on appeal, but the verdict is throwing a fit of anger that’s sending crowds to the cities again.
Little Doomsday Moments
Jun Yamamoto, 45, a nurse and activist, weighs in on what has become a looping nightmare for victims everywhere. “Again! That was what I thought,” she says.
She’s pulling up the flag that the justice system is still not treating sexual offences as actual crimes. ”I simply can’t stand it any longer,” she adds, eyes flashing with half‑weariness and half‑rage.
Legal Stumbling Block
The court said the girl was psychologically smothered by the repeated abuse, but they were unsure if she was “incapable of resisting.” Hence, the father got a clean sweep.
Where is the Protection?
- Yamamoto, the nurse, chimes down on the chilling part: “When you’re attacked by someone you’re supposed to trust, you freeze and can’t fight back.”
- She slammed the court’s logic: “Even in a case where a father raped his daughter, the court says she could have resisted and lets him go. This legal situation is serious.”
- In Japan, the #MeToo wave is still trying to catch wind. But now folks are rallying—over hundreds of demonstrators slated to tear out symbolic flowers across 20 cities.
- Bloated banners from a past “Flower Demo” in Tokyo read: “Law MUST protect victims, NOT perpetrators.”
So, if you’re feeling the news, know that this movement is stirring up a storm that’s as heartfelt as it is demanding. Japan’s new story of justice is just getting underway.
“Why do we have to ask for this over and over again?”
Picture a tear‑laden protester holding a mic, shouting, “Are we asking for something so inconceivable?” It’s a big, raw question that echoes in every corner of Japan.
The 1907 Criminal Code: A Patriarchal Time Capsule
Lawyer Yukiko Tsunoda lays it out in plain language:
- Back in 1907, Japan was all about men—no girls, parents, or voting together.
- “Rape was criminalized to make sure a wife had a child only from her husband and nobody else could touch her,” she explains. “It’s a law of chastity that only benefits the husband or the future father.”
- When a rapist turns on a woman, the law was basically saying: “You can do whatever you want, it’s harmless.”
That’s the slice of history that’s still haunting today, according to Tsunoda.
Gender Inequality That’s Still Appalling
Despite Japan’s high education numbers for women and decent workforce participation, a deeper gender gap lingers. The World Economic Forum’s latest report places Japan 110th out of 149 nations.
Tsunoda points out that “sexist norms are carved into the legal system,” which is why women feel sidelined. That’s why many activists are rallying. They want the law to reflect modern realities, not 19th‑century men’s fantasies.
Was Anything Changed in 2017?
Hold on—2017 saw a primer for reform. The criminal code got a fresh look regarding sexual offenses. They:
- Recognised male victims.
- Raised the minimum rape sentence from three to five years.
- But kept the damned “no‑resistance” rule unaltered.
What that rule does is require the victim to prove they couldn’t resist—an impossible ask that opens the door for false claims.
Why the Rule Sticks Around
While on a justice ministry panel, Tsunoda pushed for a change, but the majority said the rule might “make innocent victims get convicted because of the ‘subjective’ views of alleged victims.”
So no significant shift, at least for the moment.
<h3“The Petition Is Killing It”
Citizens signed a petition pushing for the rule’s removal. A justice ministry insider told AFP that it was the most popular of all suggestions and that they would take it seriously.
But for the protesters, it’s not a give‑up. They’ll rally on the 11th of every month until the law actually changes. That’s their plan: keep hammering the point.
Wakana Goto’s Tale: From Childhood to Confrontation
Wakana Goto, 28, blew the mic at a rally and shared something chilling: “In Japan—famously the safest country in the world—sexual harassment has haunted me since I was three.” She’s been forced into the situation and had to adapt early on, just to survive.
What’s Next?
Reform will likely be revisited next year, but the controversial rule’s fate is uncertain. For the time being, the activists won’t back off. They’ll keep protesting until true legal protection is in place.
So the question remains—why do we keep having to ask for change? The answer is simple: because the system still clings to outdated, patriarchal logic. It’s high time it caught up with the rest of the world.
