Are Social media posts stating “Crimes against foreigners are increasing sharply” and “All cases are dismissed” true?

More Social Media Posts Linking Foreigners and Crime Before the Election

As Japan’s upper house election (on July 20) approaches, social media posts mentioning both “foreigners” and the election have surged—over 74,000 posts in one day alone. Some of these posts claim things like:

• “Foreign crime is rising fast”
• “Only Japanese people get charged, foreigners don't”

But data shows these claims are not accurate.

What the Data Really Says

• In 2023, 41.6% of criminal cases involving foreign visitors (not including long-term residents) led to prosecution. This means not all foreigners go unpunished.
• For comparison, the overall prosecution rate for all people in Japan (including Japanese and foreigners) was 39.6%, which is actually a bit lower.

Do Foreigners Commit a Lot of Crimes in Japan?

• In 2023, there were about 352,493 total criminal cases in Japan (excluding traffic offenses).
• Of these, about 28,616 cases involved foreigners—around 8% of all cases.
• This percentage has not changed much in 20 years. In 2005, the foreigner crime rate was also about 8%.

So, claims that foreign crime is rapidly increasing are not supported by facts.

Why Do These Misunderstandings Happen?

• A study showed that Japanese people overestimate how much crime is committed by foreigners. While the actual rate is around 5%, people guessed it was 30% on average.
• Experts say that media often highlight crimes by foreigners, which can make them seem more common than they are.
• Some political talk focuses only on security and control, which may increase anti-foreigner sentiment.
• If this continues, experts warn Japan may lose its appeal to foreign workers, worsening the country’s labor shortage.

What Can Be Done?

• Experts and journalists emphasize the importance of fact-checking before believing or sharing social media claims.
• Media should be careful not to unintentionally spread fear or bias.
• The public should try to look at real data calmly, not get swept up by emotional posts.

Bottom Line:
The idea that foreign crime is rising or that foreigners are treated more softly by the legal system in Japan is not supported by data. Misleading posts on social media can fuel discrimination, so it’s important to think critically and stay informed with facts.