Japan’s sex offender therapy gap raises concern, as recent cases highlight weaknesses in access to mental health treatment and recidivism prevention. Despite efforts from the Ministry of Justice, experts say many offenders go untreated and reoffend.
Compared to other developed nations, Japan struggles with persistent sexual harassment issues. These include voyeurism and train groping incidents. Yet cultural silence often deters victims from reporting crimes.
According to a Cabinet Office survey, over 10% of people aged 16 to 29 experienced groping—mostly on trains. However, few reported the incidents. Among 36,000 respondents, 13.6% of women and 3.6% of men said they had been molested.
In response, Japan launched a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program in 2006 for sex offenders in prisons. The goal is to correct harmful cognitive biases—like assuming victims enjoy abuse.
However, Japan’s sex offender therapy gap raises concern because the program remains limited. Only select inmates qualify. Those fined or given suspended sentences without probation cannot enroll. Many, like a former Self-Defense Forces member convicted in 2024, reoffend without treatment.
That man, convicted of having sex with a minor, had also been fined for similar conduct in 2022. After his arrest, he sought therapy and acknowledged his destructive impulses, which worsened under stress. Medication failed to address his core behavioral issues.
Experts like clinical psychologist Daitetsu Kanaya believe Japan lacks adequate outpatient treatment options. Kanaya opened a CBT center in Fukuoka in 2020. His 10-month group therapy program helps sex offenders identify and manage harmful behaviors.
One patient—a man in his 30s—began peeping during junior high. Stress later triggered more serious crimes, including home invasions and illicit photography. Fined in 2023, he began therapy at his wife’s urging. “I had no idea such programs existed,” he said. Now, he claims a healthier mindset has prevented further offenses.
Kanaya says awareness is low and that Japan’s sex offender therapy gap raises concern about public safety and rehabilitation. He believes Japan overly emphasizes remorse without offering tools for behavioral change.
The Ministry of Justice includes “Understanding Victims” sections in its program, using testimonials and videos. However, research in Canada and the UK suggests forced empathy training alone doesn’t reduce recidivism. Some nations now exclude that component from therapy programs.
Although a review panel acknowledged this, the Ministry reaffirmed victim-focused content as essential for offender reintegration.
Still, Kanaya believes balance is key. “We must view this as a societal issue,” he said. “Anyone could be on either side.” He emphasized the urgent need to train therapists and build frameworks for consultation.
Currently, few private CBT facilities exist in Japan. Many offenders remain unaware of available treatment. Without structured help, experts fear that untreated individuals could continue harming others.
Ultimately, Japan’s sex offender therapy gap raises concern not just for public safety but for the potential rehabilitation of offenders. Experts and therapists agree: therapy access must grow—alongside public understanding—before the system can truly reduce repeat crimes.
