Japan’s previous laws on sexual assault did not mention permission and required that the crime include physical force. The new law also raises the age of consent to 16, from 13.
Author: MOTOKO RICH
Zelensky Says Images of a Ruined Hiroshima Remind Him of Bakhmut
While it “wouldn’t be fair” to compare Hiroshima to what is happening in his country, Ukraine’s president said the city’s atomic bomb museum offered grim echoes of fresh devastation.
Rahm Emanuel Pushes Japan on Gay Rights
The U.S. ambassador has enthusiastically embraced his host country. But critics say he has overstepped diplomatic bounds with his advocacy on equality.
‘The Tale of Genji’ Is More Than 1,000 Years Old. What Explains Its Lasting Appeal?
The book is often described as the world’s first novel and a touchstone of Japanese literature. But some of its themes, including its take on gender and power, have echoed over centuries.
The Japanese Author Behind ‘Bullet Train’ Is OK That the Film Isn’t So Japanese
Kotaro Isaka dreamed that his novel would get the big-screen treatment. Now it’s an action thriller starring Brad Pitt. Does the lack of major Asian stars matter?
Shinzo Abe’s Party Triumphs in Parliamentary Vote, Extending Legacy
The Liberal Democrats and their partners gained enough seats to form a supermajority. They can now amend the country’s pacifist Constitution.
Man Who Used a Homemade Gun Admits to Killing Abe, Police Say
In a country with tight gun laws and little violence, the killing of the former prime minister left many in stunned disbelief. “It’s so un-Japanese.”
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Longest-Serving Prime Minister, Dies at 67
Mr. Abe was shot on Friday during a campaign event. Before he left office in 2020, he helped pull his country out of economic malaise but fell short of his most cherished goal: to normalize Japan’s military after decades of postwar pacifism.