Expert Warns Of Growing Sextortion Problem In Japan

Sextortion cases, in which threats are made to distribute sexual images or videos over social media along with demands for money or items, are on the rise in Japan, Mainichi Shimbun reported.

PAPS received 241 sextortion inquiries between January and April 2024, an increase of 90 from the same period the previous year.

Kazuna Kanajiri, chairperson of Tokyo-based nonprofit PAPS, which supports victims of sexual exploitation and digital sexual violence, stated, "It is not uncommon for victims to erase images of interactions and evidence because they do not want to keep bad memories."

PAPS received 241 sextortion inquiries between January and April 2024, an increase of 90 from the same period the previous year.

Many cases emerge during the summer break as junior high and high school students have more opportunities to use their smartphones.

New provisions in Japan’s revised Penal Code, effective from July 2023, punish the act of demanding explicit images from minors under 16. However, according to the National Police Agency, only eight cases were uncovered nationwide by the end of 2023.

Kanajiri explained, "It is still not widely known that mere demands alone are a crime."

She also noted that more than half of those seeking counseling with PAPS are men, adding, "In the case of men, they may not even be aware that they have been sexually victimized. If you are a victim, please do not keep it to yourself—rely on the police and support groups."