what is the legal age of consent in japan

As of June 2023, the legal age of consent in Japan was raised from 13 to 16 years old. Prior to this change, the Japanese Penal Code stipulated that the age of consent was 13 years old. However, there were other multiple laws imposing penalties for engaging in lewd acts with minors. The Child Welfare Law defines a youth under the age of 18 as a child and provides for criminal penalties for “causing” a child to engage in lewd acts. It is important to note that while the legal age of consent is 16, there are other laws that protect minors from sexual exploitation and abuse.