TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The number of stalking-related cases handled by police in Japan hit a record high in 2025 since a law criminalizing the act took effect in 2000, according to police data released on Thursday.
Of the 3,717 stalking-linked cases investigated by police, 1,546 involved direct violations of the anti-stalking law, up 205 from the previous year. The remaining 2,171 cases, including two murders, were investigated under other laws, such as the penal code, up 428 from a year earlier, according to the National Police Agency.
Restraining orders issued to stop stalking and similar acts exceeded 3,000 for the first time, while 1,577 warnings against stalking were issued, up 98 from the previous year, according to the agency.
The data also showed that the number of stalking consultations with police climbed to 22,881, up 3,314 from 2024.
Among the cases, 679 were related to wireless tags and tracking via smartphones, up 309 from the previous year. ■
