Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律
The law against stalking: it makes stalking a crime, lets the police warn, and the Public Safety Commission order to stop, a person who has made someone afraid through pursuit, etc. or location tracking, and sets out the help a person targeted can get.
- Text in force since
- Promulgated
- Articles
- 21
- Amendments on the way
- 0
What this law does
- Pursuit, etc. (つきまとい等) means doing any of eight kinds of act to a particular person — or to their spouse, a lineal relative or a relative living with them, or someone else close to them in social life — to satisfy romantic or other feelings of affection for that person, or resentment that those feelings went unreturned. The acts are: following, lying in wait, blocking their way, keeping watch near, turning up at, or loitering without good reason around, their home, workplace, school or another place they are or usually are; telling them, or letting them know, things that suggest they are being watched; demanding a meeting, a relationship or anything else they have no duty to do; grossly rude or violent words or behaviour; silent phone calls, or, after being refused, repeated calls, letters, faxes, emails or other messages sent to them, or messages through a feature that lets people send messages to someone who posts information online; sending, or leaving where they will find it, filth, a dead animal or anything else deeply offensive; telling them, or letting them know, things that harm their reputation; and telling them, sending them or letting them find words, pictures, objects or electronic records that offend their sexual modesty.(Art. 2(1), Art. 2(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Read the full overview
- With the same motive and towards the same people, getting location information without consent (位置情報無承諾取得等) means, without their consent: getting, by a method a Cabinet Order (政令) sets, the location recorded or sent by a device in their possession that records or sends its own location, of a kind a Cabinet Order specifies; getting the location of a device in their possession that sends a signal identifying itself, so that its position can be found from the location of other devices nearby that pick the signal up; or attaching either kind of device to something in their possession, handing them something with one attached, or doing another act a Cabinet Order specifies that makes the device move with them. A device in their possession includes one that came to be there in any of those ways.(Art. 2(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Stalking (ストーカー行為) is doing pursuit, etc., or getting location information without consent, to the same person repeatedly. Following, lying in wait, keeping watch and the other acts around their home, telling them they are watched, demands, rough or violent conduct, and repeated emails or messages count only when done in a way that makes the person fear for their physical safety, the peace of their home or their reputation, or fear that their freedom of movement will be seriously harmed.(Art. 2(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
- No one may do pursuit, etc., or get location information without consent, in a way that makes the other person fear for their physical safety, the peace of their home or their reputation, or fear that their freedom of movement will be seriously harmed. A breach of this rule is what a police warning and a prohibition order respond to.(Art. 3(1), Art. 4(1), Art. 5(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- No one may give a person's name, address or other information needed to stalk them, or to breach Article 3 against them, to someone they know is likely to do so. After a warning or a prohibition order, where the police find that someone who holds or is seeking information about the victim is likely to give it to the person warned or ordered, and that this person is still likely to stalk or breach Article 3, they may tell the holder so and ask them not to give it. They must also ask the holder not to pass that on without good reason.(Art. 6(1), Art. 6(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- A person subjected to stalking or a breach of Article 3 can ask the police for help in protecting themselves. Where the police find the request appropriate, they are to give it: advice on steps to prevent the harm, and the other help National Public Safety Commission Rules (国家公安委員会規則) set. In giving it they are to try to work closely with other public bodies and with public and private organisations.(Art. 7(1), Art. 7(2), Art. 7(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
StalkingLocation tracking without consentPolice warningProhibition orderPassing on a victim's detailsHelp from the policeSupport for victimsPenalties
Amendments
A Japanese law is changed by another law or order that rewrites it — an . No amendment to this law is waiting to come into force. Its amendment history is below. The amendments this site has read the changes of are on this law's amendments page, provision by provision, in Japanese and English.
14 amendments already in force
21 May 2026
The text on this site
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Promote Regulatory Reform for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための規制改革を推進するためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
10 March 2026
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
30 December 2025
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
10 December 2025
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
1 June 2025
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc.
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律
1 April 2024
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Promote Regulatory Reform for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための規制改革を推進するためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2024
Act on Support for Women Facing Difficult Problems
困難な問題を抱える女性への支援に関する法律
16 June 2023
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Promote Regulatory Reform for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための規制改革を推進するためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
17 June 2022
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc.
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律
25 May 2022
Act on Support for Women Facing Difficult Problems
困難な問題を抱える女性への支援に関する法律
26 August 2021
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
15 June 2021
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
14 June 2017
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
3 January 2017
Act Partially Amending the Anti-Stalking Act
ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
Who it applies to
It applies to
- Anyone (何人も): no one may, through pursuit, etc. or getting someone's location without consent, make that person fear for their physical safety, the peace of their home or their reputation, or fear that their freedom of movement will be seriously harmed; and anyone who stalks can be punished. These rules reach only acts done out of romantic or other feelings of affection for a particular person, or resentment that those feelings went unreturned.(Art. 3(1), Art. 2(1), Art. 2(3), Art. 18(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- People whose work involves protecting a victim of stalking or a breach of Article 3 (ストーカー行為等), investigating or trying such a case, or the like, must take full care, in their work, to keep the victim safe and to keep the victim's secrets.(Art. 8(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
4 more
- The national and local governments must train and inform those officials about victims' human rights and the nature of stalking, and they and other bodies must try to manage the personal information they hold so as to prevent stalking. They must try to support victims through women's consultation and support centers (女性相談支援センター) and other suitable facilities, help with stays in private shelters, and give consideration in admitting them to public rental housing.(Art. 8(2), Art. 8(3), Art. 9(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- The national and local governments must also try to promote research on reforming offenders and on restoring victims' health, and to find out how much stalking there is, train staff, spread knowledge, and work with and support voluntary private groups. To further those efforts and the support for victims in Article 9(1), they must try to put in place the organisation needed, the funding for supporting voluntary private groups, and other measures.(Art. 10(1), Art. 11(1), Art. 12(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- A business that provided services connected with stalking or a breach of Article 3 is to try, when the victim asks, to take steps to prevent it from happening.(Art. 9(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Where stalking or a breach of Article 3 is going on, the residents of the area, the victim's employer and the head of the school the victim attends are to try to help the victim.(Art. 9(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
How it is enforced (11)
- The Superintendent-General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the chief of a prefectural police headquarters or the chief of a police station (警察本部長等) may warn (警告) a person who has breached Article 3, and is found likely to do it again, not to repeat it. The warning is given at the victim's request (申出) or on the police's own initiative, as National Public Safety Commission Rules set; once one of them has warned a person, no other may warn them for the same acts.(Art. 4(1), Art. 4(2), Art. 4(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
- On the same conditions, the Prefectural Public Safety Commission () may, at the victim's request or on its own authority, issue a prohibition order (禁止命令等): that the person not repeat the acts, and that they do what is needed to prevent them being repeated. Before it does, it must hold a hearing (聴聞) with the person. Once one Commission has issued an order, no other may issue one against that person for the same acts.(Art. 5(1), Art. 5(2), Art. 5(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Where a person has breached Article 3 and is likely to do it again, and it is urgently needed to stop harm to the victim's physical safety, the peace of their home or their reputation, or serious harm to their freedom of movement, the Commission may issue the order without a hearing or a chance to explain — at the victim's request, or on its own authority where it is urgently needed for the victim's physical safety. It must then hear the person's views (意見の聴取) within 15 days of the order. Only where it cannot find the person and gives notice of the hearing by public notice within those 15 days does the limit become 14 days from when that notice is deemed to arrive, two weeks after it is posted.(Art. 5(1), Art. 5(3), Art. 5(4), Administrative Procedure Act Art. 15(3), Administrative Procedure Act Art. 15(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
- After a warning or a prohibition order, the victim is told promptly what it says and when it was given, unless they cannot be reached. A victim who asked for a warning, an order or an extension of one and did not get it is told so promptly in writing, with the reasons.(Art. 4(3), Art. 4(4), Art. 5(6), Art. 5(7), Art. 5(10)) (the provisions it rests on)
- A prohibition order lasts one year from the day it is made. Where the Commission finds it needs to continue, it may extend it by a year, at the victim's request or on its own authority, and may do so again each time; each extension needs a hearing first.(Art. 5(8), Art. 5(9), Art. 5(10)) (the provisions it rests on)
- A prohibition order or an extension is given by serving a document, or orally where it is too urgent to serve one. Where the person's address and residence are unknown, the Commission may serve it by public notice (公示送達) instead, and the document counts as served two weeks after the notice is first posted.(Art. 5(11), Art. 5(12), Art. 5(13), Art. 5(14)) (the provisions it rests on)
- The police chief or Commission that may act is the one for the victim's current home or place of residence, the victim's home or place of residence when the acts took place, the offender's current home (or residence, if they have no known home in Japan), or the place where the acts took place.(Art. 14(1), Art. 14(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
- To decide on a warning, a prohibition order or its extension, the police or the Commission may, as far as needed, ask the person thought to have breached Article 3 and others concerned for reports or documents, or have police officers question them.(Art. 13(1), Art. 13(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Stalking is a crime punishable by imprisonment () of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 1 million yen. Stalking in breach of a prohibition order not to repeat the acts is punishable by up to 2 years or 2 million yen, and any other breach of such an order by up to 6 months or 500,000 yen.(Art. 18(1), Art. 19(1), Art. 19(2), Art. 20(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Where a local ordinance (条例) punished acts this Act regulates, that part lost effect when the Act came into force, and again for the acts it regulated as amended by the Acts of 2013, 2016 and 2021 (for the last two, acts the Act also punishes). Acts done before the ordinance lost effect are still punished as before, unless the local government's ordinance provides otherwise.(Suppl. Prov.(2), Suppl. Prov.(3), Suppl. Prov. Art. 3(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 3(2), Suppl. Prov. Art. 3(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 3(2), Suppl. Prov. Art. 2(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 2(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- The Act must be applied without unduly infringing people's rights, and must not be misused for purposes other than its own.(Art. 21(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
How it connects to other laws
Cites this lawLawThis law cites it
It also names 4 laws not yet held here.
Where the translation comes from
- 158
The Ministry of Justice's translation is shown only where the Japanese it translates matches the law in force today. Everywhere else the English is a machine translation, marked on the paragraph itself.
Only the Japanese is the law, and no lawyer has reviewed the machine translation.
Sources
Everything this page rests on
- e-Gov (Digital Agency)ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律 — the text in force from 2026-05-21Original
- e-Gov (Digital Agency)ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律 — revision historyOriginal
- Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justiceストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律 — its English title as the Ministry of Justice's translation database lists itOriginal
- Machine translation, not official
- Written for this site with AIEnglish titles of amending laws, written for this site
- Written for this site with AIDescriptions of each law, written for this site
- Worked out by this site from e-Gov's text