Age of consent in Japan

Does anyone know what the age of consent is in Japan? We were playing poker and the topic came up. I've heard that it's 14, and I've also heard that if they're in high school they're considered to be under the age of legal consent. Another guy said it was 18, another guy said 20.

And while we're at it....can foreigners own property in Japan? I'd always heard that they couldn't but an American friend of mine said that he's owned a house before.

 

The age of consent in Japan is 16 just like the UK (Unless your gay to which it's 14????? Mad!) Having sex with an under 16 will get you in to serious trouble with guaranteed imprisonment in Japan. The thing is though that some of the under 16s can be very hot. So hot that you'd never know thatthey were under 16!

About the property thing. From what I understand it's fine for a foreigner to own property in Japan as long as you have the financial resources and can prove it. It also depends upon what you want to use the property for. Having good connections within Japan also helps. It's not easy but it can be done. Getting a bank loan is also possible (From a real bank) but again not that easy.

Yakumo

 

heh ok so we were all wrong?

 

The question begs why do you want to know?

The Age of consent is 13, see this lovely link http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/csaJapan.asp

However most prefectures have their own AOC and it normally is 16, although one or two do have it as high as 18, so for your own safety make sure you see ID before sleeping with anyone. :thumbsup:

 

Yeah... dodgy topic, JG.com.

Anyone can own property in Japan. If you have cash, obviously, it's no problem. If you need a loan, and you're not Japanese, issues can arise. Nobody wants to lend you 20-30 million yen to buy some place if you have no ties to the country. Married to Japanese? Easier. Married to Japanese w/ children? Way easier.

I know plenty of people that own land. I only know one that isn't married and owns something, but it's a relatively small mansion. I think he paid 8 million for it. Probably paid cash.

Actually I don't think the government is involved at all unless you're buying land for a business. There are regulations when you build a house (the amount of usable space changes according to proximity from your train station) but other than that, it's pretty much unregulated. Note that I've never been in the market for such things, but again, have heard of the sufferings from a few friends. It is definitely not like Thailand, where it is 100% illegal for non-citizens to own land.

 

Never heard the 'playing poker' excuse before. Is that like the 'a friend wants to know' question?

It seems like the typical Japanese woman looks younger than their US or UK counterpart.

 

yes, and mostly not just the women.

 

I am absolutely awful with ages. I usually have to ask other people how old someone is, other than the person in question so I don't offend them.

For example, one of my co-workers isn't old enough to put boxes into the box crusher machine, but I didn't know that, and I got reprimanded for it, because boxes kept getting piled up on the floor (I was supposed to put them in for her), and I said "Wait, she's 17?? I thought she was at least my age!" And I'm 21 years old. It didn't help that she has a 25 year old boyfriend, either, lol.

 

Definitely have to be careful these days. I once had to card a girl where I worked that I figured was around 19-21 years old. Turns out she was only 12!!!

As soon as she said that I immediately thought of two things.
1. This girl’s photo should next to the definition of the word jailbait.
2. The movie Animal House.

 

Simple solution for Japanese girls, guess the age and add 5 years, hey presto.

As for the whole age of consent thing, I always thought it was 18 by law but had heard what I thought was urban myth about it being 12-14 depending on who was saying it.

With the prevelance of paper drivers over there it's easy to know once you've had a look through her purse as soon as the rophy kicks in......

Joking of course.... :lol:

 

I find that odd that you thought it was an urban myth. The age of consent in Canada is 14.

 

heh well considering I've been in Japan for 6 years you might say it wasn't one of the first questions I asked..

 

Oh, but back to the question. Someone said that the national government sets the age at 13, but prefectures have raised the age for their own territory? So sleeping with a 16-year old girl is statutory rape in one prefecture and perfectly legal in another?

 

According to the link below, yes:
http://legal.3yen.com/2005-07-27/is-the-age-of-consent-in-japan-really-13/

I had heard the part about prostitution also on that page. Basically anal, hand doogies, head pops and just about anything else is legit as long as there's not traditional baby making in exchange for money.

 

Why is it odd? I use my own country as a yard arm and here it's 16.

I have been told by Japanese people that it is varying ages but they held no certainty, maybe I should not have been asking 20 somethings but hanging around High School would get me i trouble I'm sure.

I've also been told that if the guy is over 13 and the girl under 17 the chances of him being arrested are high if caught. She will not be.

Seems age of consent is as murky as some other laws in Japan.

 

here is a site, that can clear some things out.

A table of worldwide ages of consent, including US states

And here it is 15, all genders.

 

8 million in cash? Japan must be every money-laundrer's and drug dealer's dream place to go. I m moving there if they don't scrutinize income!

 

8 million in cash isn't a great deal you know. It's only about 34'000 pounds. I myself have 5 million in cash however I can't touch it since the missus put it in to a special account that can't be withdrawn from for a hole year ! Decent interest though.

Yakumo

 

I thought you meant 8 million Dollars or Pounds.

Nevertheless, you'd be probed here in the UK if you offered that amount of cash (34.000)- they d do a full background check etc. They take proceeds of crime very seriously here.

We as solicitors have a duty to check for ID before we accept any clients and where there is a reasonable (objective approach) suspicion we have a duty to disclose to the Officer, or we could go to jail!

 

And not only Solicitors, even as support staff I was liable under POCA for up to 2 years in prison for letting something go without reporting it and even longer if I had a hand in it all.

I remember reading an article online somehwere that the average housewife in Japan has more than £40,000 hidden away in case of emergency... I forget the word for it..... hesokure I think.

So long as your wife's not one of those Foreign stock traders that gets caught out you'll be OK.... :lol: