Japan raises age of consent from 13 to 16 in reform of sex crimes law

Changes include the criminalisation of voyeurism and follow a string of acquittals in rape cases that triggered protests nationwide

Japan has raised the age of consent from 13, among the world’s lowest, to 16 years old as lawmakers passed key reforms to sex crime legislation.

A new bill, which also clarifies rape prosecution requirements and criminalises voyeurism, cleared parliament’s upper house in a unanimous vote.