2011年1月28日金曜日

Friday Free Day - The best/worst law ever?

So, as we all know, Japan can be a little...uh... strange, at times.

But, I came across a law that not just I, but most Japanese as well, don't know.

刑法176条 Section 176 of the Constitution, or specifically the Law of Punishments, states this.

男女ともに性的同意年齢は13歳に設定されている

Translated this states: Men and Women (Boys and Girls) age of consent is set at 13 years of age.

W-w-w-w-w-what!!!!!

13?

Yuppers everyone.  The age of consent in Japan is 13.

However, it's not that simple.  (Of course not...)

There is another set of laws, called the Ordinance for Youth (loosely translated) which states that one may not force or coerce any young person under age 18 into, shall we say, coitus for your own personal, uh, benefit.  Now, it seems to me that you should not force ANYONE into, uh, coitus.  But, that's what it says...

Now, every prefecture as their own set of laws that, for the most part, say that you can't, uh, make a baby with anyone under 18. 

BUT!!  In 2007, a 36 year old man, wife and 2 kids, was having an affair with a 16 or 17 (I forgot) year old High School girl.  Now, they had of course been having coitus, but besides that they had been actually dating!  Like, for real!! 

So, the girl's parents found out and they, as parents do, assumed that the man was just some evil nasty animal who humps everything that moves.  So, he was arrested.

In court, he and the girl both said, and proved through pictures and emails, that they were seriously dating, and not just for, uh, coitus.

Guess what the judge said? 

Ready for it...?

IT WAS OK!!  THE MAN WAS LET OFF AND ALLOWED TO LEGALLY  DATE THAT GIRL!!

The decision was that if you are dating 'for the purpose of or leading to marriage', then it is legal!.  In other words, you can date a 13 year old if you, at the beginning or at least more often then not, go on actual REAL dates (seriously date) then it is OK!!

Now to westerners, the act of dating a 13 year sounds like pedo-bear right? 

But hey, when in Rome...

Stay Frosty!(1000 internets to anyone who can tell me where that quote is from!)

23 件のコメント:

  1. brb moving to japan (nt srs)

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  2. Did you know the age of consent in Vatican City is 12 (no joke).

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  3. personally, i think that as long as both parties are happy and are in a consented relationship then it isn't a problem. it's only frowned upon becuase it's a taboo.

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  4. i love these little legal mumble jumbles from other countries! cheers for the post dude

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  5. 300 years ago and by 13 she was married with a kid.

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  6. Wow! super interesting post! Keep it up! Supporting :)

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  7. cool post!
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    followed you..follow me back.. :)

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  8. interesting stuff about japan! thanks for sharing.

    ectomorphmuscle.blogspot.com

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  9. 13 jesus christ. mexico is worse though i think its only 12.

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  10. I don't agree with that. 16 is a more reasonable age, but 13? that's sick.

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  11. wow 13 is a little too low!

    blundersfrom6foot2.blogspot.com

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  12. Funny how we consider it wrong, but in another country It's just peachy. i think in most states it's 16 here but in Cali it's 18 and if you said you were dating a 16 year old you'd be arrested on the spot

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  13. 13 is indeed a bit young. But this sort of thing is controversial. Long ago, 14 or so was acceptable and never frowned upon. If both people are willing participants, then it should be okay. And if 60 years from then, they're still together and happy...who were you to try to destroy that? Hmmm?

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  14. Following and supporting.
    toastburnt.blogspot.com

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  15. Only in Japan.

    Isn't the quote from Aliens btw?

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  16. Is this one of those old silly laws or do people like actually follow this?

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  17. inreresting article

    viewed and followed

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  19. Nice article!!

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  20. nice post
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