A video showing a girl, dead drunk on the streets of Shibuya, being taken to a love hotel and subjected to whatever the man pleased while she was unable to resist.

Eliminating the Requirement for “Assault or Intimidation”: Details of the Penal Code Amendment

With the amendment to the Penal Code of Japan in July 2023, the former offenses of “forced sexual intercourse, etc.” and “quasi-forced sexual intercourse, etc.” were consolidated into the single offense of “non-consensual sexual intercourse, etc.” Previously, the law required specific conditions such as assault, intimidation, or a state of mental incapacity; however, the amendment shifted to a framework that categorizes the causes creating a situation where consent is difficult to give—such as the influence of alcohol or drugs, fear, or influence derived from one’s position—and subjects such acts to punishment regardless of the degree of severity.