Japan child porn cases hit record high in 2018

March 14, 2019

Tokyo--The number of child pornography cases handled by Japanese police in 2018 rose by 684 from the previous year to a record 3,097, National Police Agency data showed Thursday.

Child pornography offenders increased by 612 to 2,315, also a record high.

The number of child pornography victims under 18 totaled 1,276, up 60.

The largest proportion of the victims, or 42 pct, was deceived or intimidated into taking nude selfies and sending them to the offenders.

Meanwhile, 23 pct were victims of secret filming and photographing, and 14 pct fell prey to prostitution and other sexual misconduct.

Of the total victims, 42 pct were high school students, 34 pct junior high school students, and 19 pct elementary school kids.

The NPA data also found 838 victims were unacquainted with the offenders and that 640 came in contact with the offenders through social media. Jiji Press