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Taylor Speri

Phillips

AP Language Pd. 4

13 December 2017

The Hope for a Safer Japan

When people are asked to describe Japan, the following adjectives typically come to

mind: “expensive, modern, and safe,” but safe is not necessarily accurate (Chorlton). Most

Japanese residents consider their country to be a secure place, as it has been for centuries. Yet,

they are struggling to cope with the fact that it may not be as safe as they may believe. While

Japan is no stranger to crime, since it hosts a vast array of crime groups better known as the

Yakuza, the country still ranks among the lowest on the crime spectrum. However, over the past

six months, crimes in Japan have been making the headlines, and are seizing the attention of

bystanders like a fight in a high school. The recent crime wave in Japan has lessened the

harmonious reputation generally associated with Japanese residency, most notably through

fear-provoking media and a need for self-protection.

With the media capturing the rise in gold smuggling in Japan, citizens are becoming

fearful of whom they may come across in their daily lives. A crime that used to be popular,

gold-smuggling has regained popularity in Japan, much to the country’s disliking. After

evaluating the surprising increase in the outdated crime, Jonathan Soble recounts: “An

old-fashioned crime is experiencing a resurgence in Japan: gold smuggling. The authorities say

they are contending with a startling rise in the amount of gold being brought illegally into the

country… Arrests have jumped 40-fold in just a few years.” As more counts of smuggling are
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recorded, more arrests are being made, placing many residents behind bars. Yet, with the revival

of smuggling comes the question: Who is to blame? Regrettably, the answer is much more

complex than one may think. Smuggling cases in Japan have multiplied this year, and while the

infamous Yakuza syndicates are responsible for some of it, a “more creative” group is to be held

accountable (Soble). Those being charged with gold-smuggling now are more unique than the

Yakuza previously responsible, making the task of identifying them much more challenging. As

more criminals come into the spotlight in Japan, more citizens are beginning to worry about who

can be trusted. When people are accustomed to knowing exactly who is responsible for a crime,

especially an obsolete one, it becomes even more difficult to accept that Japan may not be the

“perfect” place it is often referred to as.

When one thinks of a criminal, they normally don’t picture someone old enough to be

their grandparent. However, Japan is redefining those standards, and has turned many of the

elderly into criminals through the disaster of poverty. Leo Lewis justifies the connection between

poverty and unlawful behavior in seniors by stating that poverty among the over-65 population in

Japan is rising, and economic troubles have been linked to the almost 2,500 imprisoned seniors

over the past year. Many elderly Japanese inhabitants are being arrested, and many of these

criminals experienced economic issues prior to their arrest. This rise in senior crime has been

labeled the “Silver Crime” wave and is currently thriving due to Japan’s quickly ageing society.

When discussing the wave in crimes committed by the elderly, Danielle Demetriou says that as

Japan’s silver crime tally increases, poverty is undoubtedly one of the key factors “fuelling the

surge,” of which is also unfortunately a negative side effect of the rapid ageing of said Japanese

society. If the poverty rate does not slow down, the nation will be left with more elderly
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criminals resorting to desperate measures in order to provide for themselves and their families.

For eight years, Japan has been plagued with a crafty burglar, that was recently caught.

Investigators identified the “infamous ‘Ninja of Heisei’,” responsible for over 250 burglaries

throughout the past decade, and they determined that he is 74 years old (Jenkins). While a

74-year-old burglar may seem unbelievable, this is just one of the many cases where some of the

elders of Japan have caused problems in society. Unfortunately, not much can be done to slow

the wave of “Silver Crime” with the large number of elders residing in the country. Japan is

becoming the first “ultra aged” country, since 28% of the residents are over 65 years of age

(Demetriou). With over a quarter of the population in their mid-60s, there is guaranteed to be

crime in that age group, and the Japanese citizens are expected to become fearful. How else can

one feel when their sweet grandmother may secretly be a skilled felon?

Even more surprising than the elderly criminals is the number of recurrent offenders over

the past year in Japan. In the past decade, a surplus of criminals have found themselves back

behind bars. Mizuho Aoki points out: “The percentage of repeat offenders among convicts has

been rising since 2004, reaching 59.5 percent in 2016, the [annual White Paper on Crime]

shows.” The thought that felons throughout Japan have not learned their lesson and are creating

trouble once again is provoking fear in many citizens and tainting the perfect image of Japan.

Based on the recent spread of silver crime in the country, it is not very surprising that many of

the repeat offenders of crimes are of the senior population. Recent government figures in Japan

state that nearly one in four elderly convicts is breaking more laws and ending up back in prison

within two years of being released (Demetriou). Due to criminals not changing their illegal ways,

even after serving their sentences, Japanese residents are being left to suffer the consequences. If
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prison was enough of a reality check for criminals to modify their behavior, maybe the citizens

would have less to worry about.

The continuation of the crime syndicates posing a serious threat for the inhabitants is one

constant in Japanese crime. Japan is filled with Yakuza (organized crime) groups that continue to

generate trouble for the citizens of the previously peaceful country. As emphasized by Jake

Adelstein, there are over 22 “designated separate” Yakuza groups in Japan, all of which have

gained presence in the nation through their booming businesses and eye-catching logos. The

Yakuza were already problematic enough, but their new existence in the everyday lives of the

Japanese is fabricating quite a bit of terror. Yakuza-related arrests are beginning to increase with

the number of groups in the country. Over 170 people have been arrested for being connected to

the crime syndicate case in Japan, including members of six different crime groups, and may

even have been led by high-ranking Yamaguchi-gumi members (Adelstein). The involvement of

Yakuza high officials does little to calm the worry expressed by the citizens of the nation who

want to live in safety. Alas, the notorious Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group is also

gaining power. Due to the Yakuza’s increasing power and influence, many are sure that they are

growing stronger, and have adapted to the times impeccably (Adelstein). With the news that one

of the most powerful groups of felons is gaining strength, how can one not be afraid? The

Yakuza have been a nemesis to Japan for decades, and their continuing rise in power leaves

citizens left to wallow in fear of what is yet to come.

For a country that is used to feeling safe at almost all times of the day, the recent increase

of crime covered in the news has diminished the level of comfort most residents naturally felt. A

need for personal safety is not something the Japanese are accustomed to. Jan Chorlton explains:
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“Personal safety is something people [in Japan] have taken for granted for centuries, and it’s still

true that in most parts of Tokyo, people can walk about day and night without fear of being

harmed. But Japan’s famous ‘wa’, or harmony, is under attack.” Japan is not an entirely secure

country, nor is any country, but its citizens are having difficulty accepting that. The Japanese

lived carefree for a long time, and no one wants to change their lifestyle because of a crime

wave. “In this trusting country, where people once left their doors and windows open and their

car keys in the ignition, things have changed,” states Chorlton when explaining the shift of

lifestyle in Japan. The nation is not ready to live in fear, but with an increase of wrongdoing

grasping the news coverage, they must accept the change. No one wants to shift from a carefree

live to a fearful one, but in moments of panic, one must do what it takes to at least feel safe.

As proof that Japanese citizens in general feel less safe than they used to, the number of

security devices purchased this year has significantly increased. Stores throughout Japan are

relishing in the profit they are making on the previously unpopular security devices. The popular

shop in Japan called “Tokyo Hands Shibuya” stated that in 2017 so far they have sold 10 times

the number of security devices sold last year (Chorlton). Yet, while businesses may be thriving,

residents are still losing their sense of security, a loss much more tragic for the Japanese than one

would assume. When it comes to making some profit from security devices sold or having a

sense of safety, how could one not choose the latter?

One of the most upsetting outcomes of the crime wave influencing the citizens’ lives is

the realization that everyday activities are no longer completely safe. As a matter of fact, many

citizens have had their seemingly peaceful activities ruined by unlawful acts. Petty crimes have

entered the limelight over the past few months, as nuisances like bag-snatching become
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evermore frequent (“Tokyo police investigating over 50 cases of bag-snatching at night”).

Citizens cannot even merely walk outside in the dark without coming across some sort of felon,

damaging the carefreeness most initially felt when doing so. As a result, Japanese residents are

forced to take precaution in ways that they never would have before the crime wave began. The

Japanese see the shift to locking and bolting their houses at night as “both a reality check, and an

end of innocence” (Chorlton). In a nation that used to fear little to nothing, needing to take the

extra step to protect themselves is truly heartbreaking. If the crime wave was less out of hand and

less publicized, citizens could go back to living life as untroubled as a statue in a windstorm, as

they have the reputation of doing.

On the other hand, many might argue that Japan is not truly in a crime crisis, as their total

crime count is still continuing to decline. One could argue that, since Japan’s number of

wrongdoing is diminishing, citizens should feel even more safe than before. According to the

White Paper on Crime, Japan just experienced their 14th year of decrease in crime quantity,

reaching just below one million in one year, (Aoki). While it is true that the shrinking crime

count is a step in the right direction, the number of crimes reported does not directly affect the

feeling of fear residents of Japan may feel. Even though there are fewer crimes in total, the

media still continues to cover the crimes occurring, provoking fear, if even a small amount, in

the audience at home. As stated earlier, no crime is always better than some crime, so action

must be taken soon to restore the feelings of harmony and peace most citizens and visitors

experience when in Japan.

Without a doubt, Japan needs the harmonious feelings, also known as “wa,” generally

associated with it to be reinstated. To accomplish this, Japan is in need of help from higher
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forces, but of whom have sadly let them down. An unknown speaker explains the failed

assistance by saying: “For the first time in nearly half a century, the Supreme Court… changed

its interpretation of what constitutes indecent assault, saying a perpetrator can commit such a

crime without having sexual intentions” (“Japan’s Supreme Court broadens definition of

indecent assault”). With the implementation of new guidelines for what can and cannot convict a

felon for controversial crimes like sexual assault, the government is heading down the wrong

path in terms of safety reconstruction. Peace must be restored in Japan, and the government

needs to step up and protect their citizens like the courageous leaders they were elected to be.

In addition to the government, the ones who call Japan their home must also be set

straight. Appropriate action is crucial for the sense of security to return to Japan. For safety to be

enhanced in Japan, new measures are needed to halt the repetition of crimes successfully (Aoki).

It is clear to everyone that in order for Japan’s reputation to be mended, action must be taken. No

one can sit back and allow the people to see their country in a negative light anymore. The

citizens themselves must also change their outlook on situations in order for the country to move

forward. After being arrested, the ‘Ninja of Heisei’ stated, “If I were younger, I wouldn’t have

been caught. I’ll quit now as I’m 74 and old enough” (Jenkins). Age should not be an excuse for

committing crime, and the Japanese must collectively understand right from wrong in order to

feel peace as opposed to fear once again. In addition, the media in Japan should be controlled to

prevent so much fear from being provoked in the audience. Having tragedies and wrongdoings

broadcast around the nation does nothing but instate worry in the listeners, so limiting the

attention such unlawfulness receives is the perfect first step to a peaceful Japan. To return
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harmony to the country, the residents must establish their goals and viewpoints as one, and

furthermore, take appropriate action so this shift may be accomplished.

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Works Cited

Adelstein, Jake. “Brazen Heists Suggest That Crime Syndicates May Be Back in Business.”

The Japan Times, ​The Japan Times, 6 May 2017. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.

Adelstein, Jake. “Why One Of Japan's Largest Organized Crime Groups Is Looking For

Legitimate Work.” ​Forbes​, Forbes Magazine, 2 Oct. 2017. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.

Aoki, Mizuho. “Reported Crimes in Japan Fell below 1 Million Mark Last Year.” ​The Japan

Times​, The Japan Times, 17 Nov. 2017. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

Chorlton, Jan. “Japanese Crime Rate Rising.” ​ABC News​, ABC News Network, 8 June 2017​.

Accessed 29 Nov. 2017.

Demetriou, Danielle. “Poverty of Ageing Japanese Population Fuelling 'Silver Crime' Wave.”

The Telegraph,​ Telegraph Media Group, 20 Nov. 2017. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

“Japan's Supreme Court Broadens Definition of Indecent Assault.” ​The Japan Times, ​The Japan

Times, 29 Nov. 2017. Accessed 29 Nov. 2017.

Jenkins, Aric. “Ninja Thief, 74, Arrested by Japanese Police After 8 Years.” ​Time,​ Time, 25 Oct.

2017. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

Lewis, Leo. “Poverty among Japan's Elderly Spurs Grey Crime Wave.” Financial Times,

Financial Times, 19 Nov. 2017. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

Soble, Jonathan. “Gangsters, Grandmothers and Gold: Japan’s New Crime Wave.” ​The New

York Times​, The New York Times, 14 June 2017. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.

“Tokyo Police Investigating over 50 Cases of Bag-Snatching at Night.” ​Japan Today,​ Japan

Today, 29 Nov. 2017. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.