Why Are Westerners So Astonished by Japan’s Safety?

Japan’s safety: Lost wallets, safe night streets, and the culture behind it all.

The sight of someone leaving their laptop unattended on a cafe table.
Elementary school children riding packed trains alone.
Unlocked bicycles leaning against walls.
For Westerners visiting Japan, these scenes often become a source of astonishment.
A level of apparent vulnerability that would be unthinkable in many Western societies unfolds as an everyday occurrence in Japan.
Many foreigners are also struck by the sight of women walking alone at night.

This surprise at Japan’s “good public safety” isn’t just a collection of individual impressions; it’s a common sentiment among many visitors.
It suggests that the social norms and expectations surrounding safety and trust in daily life differ fundamentally from those in many Western countries.
In this article, we’ll delve into the background of this phenomenon by examining statistical data, exploring the potential cultural and educational factors that support Japan’s safety, and looking at concrete examples.
Why does Japan feel so safe?

Japan’s Safety in Numbers: A Comparison with Countries Around the World

Is the feeling that “Japan is safe” merely a subjective impression, or is it backed by objective data? Let’s take a look at international crime statistics.

Organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) collect and publish crime statistics from around the world.
However, it’s important to be cautious when comparing this data across countries.
Differences in how crimes are defined, the rate at which victims report incidents to the police, and how the police record them can make simple comparisons difficult.
For example, there are cases where victims report a crime but it isn’t recorded by the police, or where victims don’t report it at all.
Recognizing these statistical limitations is crucial for understanding the data correctly.
This illustrates how cultural and institutional differences can influence even seemingly objective indicators like crime statistics.

Bearing these caveats in mind, Japan’s remarkable safety becomes clear when we look at the homicide rate (intentional homicide), a particularly serious crime.
When compared by the number of homicides per 100,000 population, Japan’s figure is extremely low.
For example, data from 2021 reports Japan’s homicide rate as 0.2 or 0.3, a strikingly low number compared to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 4.1. Among the 38 OECD member countries, this is the third-lowest rate, making Japan one of the safest countries in the world.

The table below compares the homicide rate (per 100,000 population) for Japan and several major Western countries based on the latest available data:

Comparison of Crime Rates: Japan vs. Major Western Countries (per 100,000 population)

Source: UNODC Global Study on Homicide 2023 (including estimates based on 2021 data), WHO Global Health Observatory (Japan 2021), UK ONS (England & Wales 2021/22)

As the table clearly shows, Japan’s homicide rate is drastically lower than that of the United States and remains low compared to European countries.
Regarding other crime categories such as robbery and theft, available international comparison data also suggests that Japan tends to have lower rates than many Western countries.
However, differences in definitions and recording methods may be even more significant for these types of crimes, requiring even greater caution in comparisons.
Statistics from the Japanese National Police Agency also provide insights into domestic crime trends.

Crucially, Japan’s low crime rate, especially its low homicide rate, is not a temporary phenomenon but a long-term trend.
In international crime victim surveys, Japan consistently ranks as a country with low rates of victimization.
This suggests that Japan’s safety is likely supported by deeply rooted social factors rather than short-term policies.

Of course, Japan is not entirely crime-free.
Areas like Chuo Ward in Osaka City (where Dotonbori is located) are considered to have relatively higher crime rates within the country.
There have also been reports of an increasing trend in certain street crimes, such as bicycle theft, in recent years. However, overall, Japan’s crime rate, particularly for violent crimes, remains extremely low by international standards, and the perception that “Japan is safe” is supported by statistical evidence.

Exploring the Roots of Low Crime Rates: Part 1 – The Role in the Classroom: Moral Education

Where does Japan’s remarkably low crime rate come from?
One key area to consider is the role of education.
In particular, “Special Subject: Moral Education” (Tokubetsu no Kyōka Dōtoku), integrated into the Japanese school curriculum, may influence the formation of social norms and ethical values.

Moral Education is a formal subject in the compulsory education curriculum from elementary to junior high school. Its aim is “to cultivate the moral character that forms the foundation for individuals to consider their own way of life, act based on independent judgment, and live better together with others as independent human beings.”
Here, “moral character” refers to a comprehensive personal trait that includes moral judgment, moral sentiment, and the willingness and attitude to engage in moral practice.

The curriculum covers a wide range of values, including honesty, integrity, fairness and justice, kindness, respect for life, public spirit, respect for rules, cooperation, contribution to society, respect for traditions and culture, and international understanding.
It emphasizes not only learning about values as knowledge but also introspection, understanding the feelings and diverse perspectives of others, and thinking multidimensionally and from various angles about how to act in complex situations.
In recent years, “moral education through thinking and discussion” has become a key phrase, emphasizing the process by which students themselves think about moral issues that don’t necessarily have a single answer and deepen their understanding through dialogue.

How might this kind of education contribute to Japan’s low crime rate?
Consistently learning and having opportunities to think about consideration for others, empathy, and the importance of following social rules from a young age can foster a strong sense of social norms throughout society and cultivate a foundation that inhibits antisocial behavior.
In fact, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) promotes moral education in connection with preventing bullying and delinquency, aiming to develop citizens who respect others and have a sense of norms.
The ability to think about the essence of things and approach them with sincerity, as well as rich emotional development, cultivated through moral education, are considered important elements that form the basis of “the ability to live.”

The very fact that moral education is positioned as a formal subject indicates how much Japanese society values character development and social harmony.
It may suggest a social consensus that moral character is not something to be left solely to the family and community but should be actively taught and nurtured by schools.
Furthermore, the recent emphasis on “thinking and discussing” aims to cultivate internal moral judgment rather than mere external rule-following, which may be more effective in long-term crime prevention.

However, it’s also important to recognize that moral education is not a panacea.
The fact that bullying remains a serious problem despite the promotion of moral education shows the difficulty of preventing all antisocial behavior through school education alone.
Concerns have also been raised about the state imposing specific values.
Moral education is one of many factors contributing to Japan’s low crime rate, and its effectiveness likely unfolds through interaction with various other elements such as family environment, local community, economic conditions, and individual psychology.

Exploring the Roots of Low Crime Rates: Part 2 – Echoes from the Past? Bushido, Honor, and the “Culture of Shame”

Another compelling hypothesis for explaining Japan’s good public safety is the influence of cultural norms, particularly the “culture of shame.”

The “culture of shame” refers to a culture where an individual’s behavior is strongly regulated by how it is perceived by the groups and society to which they belong (“the eyes of others”).
Avoiding “losing face” by acting in a way that brings shame and maintaining one’s reputation and harmony within the group are highly valued.
This is often contrasted with the Western “culture of guilt,” where behavior tends to be regulated by an individual’s internal conscience or absolute standards like religious teachings.

How does this “sense of shame” connect to crime deterrence?
The awareness that deviating from social norms, especially by committing a crime, will bring “shame” not only upon oneself but also upon one’s family and affiliated groups (school, company, etc.) can act as a powerful deterrent.
The desire to avoid public disgrace may make people more reserved and contribute to the maintenance of social order.
The opposite of this “shame” is “honor (Meiyo),” and gaining positive evaluation from society can also motivate people’s behavior.

So, what about the connection to “Bushido”?
Bushido was the ethical code of the samurai class, emphasizing honor, loyalty, self-discipline, and sensitivity to shame.
While these ideals were originally specific to the samurai class, they permeated Japanese culture over time and are thought to indirectly influence modern Japanese values regarding reputation and social responsibility.

What we can learn from Shohei Ohtani about the Japanese image: Shohei Ohtani: Reflecting Japanese Moral Values

This framework of “shame” versus “guilt” cultures provides a useful perspective for understanding differences in social behavior.
n societies with a strong tendency to value social evaluation and harmony, the deterrent against actions that disrupt this (such as crime) may work more strongly, in a different way than in societies that rely primarily on an individual’s internal sense of guilt.

Furthermore, if traditional “shame culture” and community bonds are weakening, it raises the question of how this might affect Japan’s crime trends in the future.
If these informal social controls weaken, the crime rates that have been kept low so far could potentially change.

Safety in Everyday Life: What Real-Life Examples Tell Us

Let’s shift our focus from abstract factors like statistical data and culture/education to the more concrete aspects of daily life. Japan’s good public safety and high level of social trust are evident in various everyday scenes.

The Miracle of Lost Property:

One of the most famous examples symbolizing Japan’s safety is the surprisingly high probability of lost items being returned to their owners.
According to Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department statistics, approximately 67.8% of lost wallets and a staggering 83.7% of lost mobile phones are returned to their owners.
Regarding cash, over 22.8 billion yen in lost money was reported to the police nationwide in 2024 alone.
This is just the amount reported; the actual amount lost is likely even higher.
The act of not only refraining from stealing other people’s belongings but also diligently taking found items to the police suggests a deeply ingrained honesty and sense of civic duty that goes beyond simply a low rate of opportunistic crime.
This may be a result of internalized values taught in moral education (honesty, valuing things) and reinforced by social expectations (culture of shame).
This is evidence of a high level of social trust in action.

Walking Alone at Night:

One thing that surprises many foreigners, especially women, is the relative safety of walking alone at night in Japanese urban areas.
Of course, it’s not to say that walking alone at night in Japan is completely without risk, and caution is necessary, especially in back streets of entertainment districts and less populated areas.
It’s also been pointed out that some areas in Osaka and Tokyo have higher crime rates compared to other regions.
It goes without saying that basic caution is necessary when walking alone at night in any country.

However, when compared to many other major cities around the world, the degree of safety one feels when walking at night in Japan is remarkably high.
In many other countries, taxi use is recommended for nighttime outings, and entering certain dangerous areas is strictly warned against.
While warnings exist in Japan as well, the degree and the low risk of actually encountering danger are often perceived as significantly different.
This fact demonstrates that Japan’s good public safety is a tangible reality.

Other Examples:

There are many other everyday scenes that illustrate Japan’s safety. Vending machines, countless in number throughout the cities, are rarely vandalized.
Public spaces are generally kept clean and orderly.
Even in crowded places like packed trains, petty crimes like pickpocketing (while not entirely absent) are relatively rare.
It’s unusual for bags placed on overhead racks in trains to be stolen.

What a Culture of Consideration Creates?

In this article, we’ve explored Japan’s good public safety, which often surprises Westerners, through statistical data, educational background, cultural factors, and concrete everyday examples.

Statistics confirm that Japan’s crime rate, especially for violent crimes like homicide, is extremely low by global standards.
Behind this lies the potential influence of moral education in the compulsory education curriculum, which helps to instill values such as rule-following and consideration for others throughout society.
Furthermore, the cultural background known as the “culture of shame,” which emphasizes social evaluation and harmony, may also be a factor that makes people hesitant to deviate from norms.
And everyday realities, such as the remarkable honesty in returning lost property and the relative safety of walking alone at night, are likely the result of these factors working in combination.

Japan’s good public safety cannot be explained by a single factor.
Education, culture, socioeconomic factors (for example, relatively low income inequality may also be relevant, although not discussed in depth here), and effective police activity likely interact to create this unique level of safety.

The initial surprise felt by visitors from Western countries arises precisely because these statistical, cultural, and social differences manifest concretely in daily life.In conclusion, at the root of Japan’s good public safety may lie a deeply ingrained “culture of consideration” for others, for rules, and for the community.
This may be what manifests as a level of public safety that is unparalleled in the world.

Of course, Japan is not immune to crime.
Recently, an increase in crimes committed by foreigners has become a significant social issue, so please do not let your guard down and exercise caution when traveling in Japan.

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