• Online insults now punishable by up to a year in prison in Japan.
• The maximum penalty for the crime of “insulting”; was less than 30 days’ detention; or a 10,000 yen fine.
• Hana Kimura died by suicide after being harassed online.

Since 2020, when Hana Kimura committed herself; after being bullied online; there has been an increased focus on cyberbullying in Japan.

Following the death of a reality television star; who had experienced a wave of online harassment; Japan has made online insults punishable by up to a year in prison; in an effort to combat cyberbullying.

Previously, the maximum penalty for “insultation”; was no more than 30 days in prison.

The modification to Japan’s penal code, voted by lawmakers on Monday; and expected to take effect this summer adds a prison sentence; and raises the maximum punishment to 300,000 yen.

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The prosecution statute of limitations has also been raised; from one to three years.

Though the rule includes insults made offline; they are less likely to be subject to the harsher penalties, according to Ryuichi Nozaki; a senior lawyer at the Tokyo law firm.

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