Japan Raises Age of Consent From 13 and Redefines Rape in Milestone Law Change

Japan passed a landmark sex-crime bill on Friday, in a long fought-for bid to make a range of sexual offenses, including rape, photo voyeurism and online child-grooming, more easily punishable.

The amendments to the Penal Code change the term for the crime of “forced sexual intercourse” to “non-consensual sexual intercourse,” widening the scope of cases that can be treated as an offense.