Penal Code

The Penal Code is hereby established as set forth in the separate volume.

The date on which this Act comes into effect is specified by Imperial Ordinance.

The Penal Code under Proclamation No. 36 of 1880 is repealed as of the day on which this Act comes into effect.

(Separate Volume)

①This Code applies to anyone who commits a crime within the territory of Japan.

②The same applies to anyone who commits a crime on board a Japanese vessel or aircraft outside the territory of Japan.

This Code applies to anyone who commits one of the following crimes outside the territory of Japan:

This Code applies to any Japanese national who commits one of the following crimes outside the territory of Japan:

This Code applies to any non-Japanese national who commits one of the following crimes against a Japanese national outside the territory of Japan:

This Code applies to any public employees of Japan who commits one of the following crimes outside the territory of Japan:

Beyond what is provided for in the provisions of Article 2 through the preceding Article, this Code also applies to anyone who commits those crimes outside the territory of Japan prescribed under Part II which are governed by a treaty even if committed outside the territory of Japan.

Even when a final and binding decision has been rendered by a foreign judiciary against the criminal act of a person, it does not preclude further punishment in Japan with regard to the same act; provided, however, that when the person has already served either the entire or part of the punishment abroad, the execution of the punishment is mitigated or remitted.

When a punishment is changed by law after the commission of a crime, the lesser punishment is applied.

①The term "public employee" as used in this Code means a national or local government official, a member of an assembly or committee, or other employees engaged in the performance of public duties in accordance with laws and regulations.

②The term "public office" as used in this Code means an office where public employees perform their duties.

The term "electronic or magnetic record" as used in this Code means any record which is produced by electronic, magnetic or any other means unrecognizable by natural perceptive functions and is used for data-processing by a computer.

The general provisions of this Part also apply to crimes for which punishments are provided by other laws and regulations, except when special provisions are provided in such laws and regulations.

The principal punishments are categorized as the death penalty, imprisonment, fine, penal detention and petty fine, with confiscation as a supplementary punishment.

①The order of severity of the principal punishments is according to the order in which they are provided for in the preceding Article.

②Between punishments of the same type, the punishment prescribed with a higher maximum term or amount is severer; and when the maximum terms or amounts are equal, the punishment prescribed with the higher minimum term or amount is severer.

③Between death penalties or punishments of the same type which have equal maximum and minimum terms or amounts, the order of severity is determined in light of the circumstances of the crimes.

①The death penalty is executed by hanging at a penal institution.

②A person who has been sentenced to the death penalty is detained in a jail until their execution.

①Imprisonment is either for life or with a definite term, and imprisonment for a definite term is for a term of one month or more and 20 years or less.

②Imprisonment consists of confinement in a penal institution.

③A person who has been sentenced to imprisonment may be made to perform necessary work, or may be given necessary guidance, in order to achieve their reform and rehabilitation.

①If the death penalty or imprisonment for life is reduced to imprisonment for a definite term, its maximum term is 30 years.

②If imprisonment for a definite term is aggravated, the term may be extended to 30 years, and if it is reduced, the term may be reduced to less than one month.

A fine is not less than 10,000 yen; provided, however, that if it is reduced, the amount may be reduced to less than 10,000 yen.

①Penal detention consists of confinement in a penal institution for not less than 1 day but less than 30 days.

②A person who has been sentenced to penal detention may be made to perform necessary work, or may be given necessary guidance, in order to achieve their reform and rehabilitation.

A petty fine is not less than 1,000 yen but less than 10,000 yen.

①A person who defaults in payment of a fine in full is detained in a workhouse for a term of not less than one day but not more than two years.

②A person who defaults in payment of a petty fine in full is detained in a workhouse for a term of not less than one day but not more than 30 days.

③When fines are imposed cumulatively or when a fine and a petty fine are imposed cumulatively, the term of detention may not exceed three years. When petty fines are imposed cumulatively, the term of detention may not exceed 60 days.

④When rendering a sentence of a fine or petty fine the court is to simultaneously determine and render a term of detention in the case of a default in the full payment thereof.

⑤Without the consent of the sentenced person, confinement for default of a fine may not be executed within 30 days from the time when the decision has become final and binding, and confinement for default of a petty fine may not be executed within 10 days from the time when the decision has become final and binding.

⑥When a person sentenced to a fine or petty fine has made a payment of part of the fine, the term of detention is calculated by dividing the amount of the unpaid payments by the amount corresponding to the ratio of one day of detention (a remainder less than one day is deemed as one whole day) reduced by a period of days in proportion to the amount of payments made for the fine or petty fine imposed.

①The following objects may be confiscated:

②An object set forth in the preceding paragraph may only be confiscated if it does not belong to a person other than the criminal; provided, however, that it may be confiscated if a person other than the criminal acquires the object after the crime with knowledge of the applicability of the preceding items.

When the whole or part of the object prescribed in items (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article cannot be confiscated, a sum of money equivalent thereto may be collected.

Confiscation cannot be imposed to crimes punishable only by penal detention or a petty fine, except when specifically provided for; provided, however, that this does not apply to the object set forth in item (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 19.

The days spent in pre-sentencing detention may be included in whole or in part into the sentence imposed.

When a term is expressed in months or years, it is to be calculated in accordance with the calendar.

①The term of imprisonment is calculated from the day on which such sentence becomes final and binding.

②The days when the criminal is not actually confined is not to be included into the term of punishment, even if they are after the sentence has become final and binding.

①The first day of imprisonment is calculated as one whole day regardless of the number of hours actually imprisoned. The same applies to the first day of the period of prescription.

②Final release from imprisonment takes place on the day after completion of the term of imprisonment.

①When any one of the following persons has been sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 500,000 yen or less, the execution of the entire sentence may be suspended in light of circumstances for a period of 1 year or more and 5 years or less from the day on which the sentence becomes final and binding.

②When a person, who has been sentenced to imprisonment and has been granted suspension of execution of the entire sentence, is sentenced subsequently to imprisonment for 2 years or less and there are circumstances especially favorable to the person, the person may be granted suspension of execution of the sentence as with the persons prescribed in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that the same does not apply to a person who, having been granted suspension of execution of the entire sentence pursuant to the main clause of this paragraph, has been placed under probation pursuant to the provision of paragraph (1) of the following Article and commits a crime again within the term of such probation.

①In cases prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the subject person may be placed under probation during the period of suspended execution of the sentence; and in cases prescribed in paragraph (2) of that Article, that person is placed under probation through the period of suspended execution of the sentence.

②Probation placed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be provisionally cancelled by a disposition of a government agency.

③When probation is provisionally cancelled pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the person, for the purpose of the provisions of the proviso of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article and of item (ii) of Article 26-2, is deemed not to be under probation until the provisional cancellation is revoked.

Suspended execution of the entire sentence must be revoked in the following cases; provided, however, that item (iii) does not apply when the subject person is a person set forth in item (ii) of paragraph (1) of Article 25 or falls under item (iii) of the following Article:

Suspended execution of the entire sentence may be revoked in the following cases:

When a suspended execution of the sentence to imprisonment in whole is revoked pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two Articles, the concurrent suspended execution of another sentence to imprisonment (excluding a sentence the execution of which has been suspended pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2) of the following Article or the second sentence of paragraph (2) of Article 27-7; the same applies in paragraph (6) of the following Article, Article 27-6 and paragraph (6) of Article 27-7) must also be revoked.

①When the entire period of suspended execution of the sentence in whole progresses without rescission, the sentence ceases to be effective.

②Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, if a prosecution has been instituted for a crime committed again within the period of suspended execution of the entire sentence (limited to a crime punishable by a fine or a greater punishment), the sentence referred to in that paragraph is to remain in effect during the period from the day on which that period elapses until the grant of suspended execution of the entire sentence under the second sentence of this paragraph can no longer be revoked pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or (5) (hereinafter referred to as the "period of continued effect" in this paragraph and the following paragraph). In this case, with regard to that sentence, suspended execution of the entire sentence is deemed to have been granted during that period of continued effect.

③Notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, with regard to the application of the following provisions during the period of continued effect, the sentence referred to in that paragraph is deemed to have ceased to be effective:

④In the case referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2), if the person is sentenced to imprisonment or a greater punishment for that crime and is not granted a suspended execution of the sentence in whole, the grant of suspended execution of the entire sentence under the second sentence of that paragraph must be revoked; provided, however, that this does not apply if that crime has been punished as a crime for consolidated punishment together with a crime committed after the period of suspension referred to in the first sentence of that paragraph elapsed, and it is found inappropriate in consideration of the circumstances of the crime and other circumstances.

⑤In the case referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2), if the person is sentenced to a fine for that crime, the grant of suspended execution of the entire sentence under the second sentence of that paragraph may be revoked.

⑥When a suspended execution of the sentence in whole is revoked pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the concurrent suspended execution of another sentence to imprisonment must also be revoked.

①When any one of the following persons has been sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years or less, the execution of the sentence in part may be suspended for a period of 1 year or more and 5 years or less if it is found that such suspension is necessary and reasonable to prevent the person from committing another crime, in consideration of the severity of the circumstances of the crime, circumstances of the criminal and other relevant circumstances:

②With regard to a punishment for which the suspension of execution in part was granted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the period of such suspension is calculated from the day on which the execution of the portion of the term for which the suspension of execution was not granted is completed, or the day on which the subject person becomes no longer subject to the execution of such sentence.

③Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, if the person has another sentence to imprisonment to be executed at the time when the portion of the term for which the suspension of execution was not granted is completed or the person becomes no longer subject to the execution of such sentence, the period of suspension granted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is calculated from the day on which the execution of the imprisonment to be executed is completed or the day on which the person becomes no longer subject to the execution of such sentence.

①In cases prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the subject person may be placed under probation during the period of suspended execution of the sentence.

②The probation placed pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph may be provisionally cancelled by a disposition of a government agency.

③When the probation is provisionally cancelled pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, the person, for the purpose of the provisions of item (ii) of Article 27-5, is not deemed to be under probation until the provisional cancellation is revoked.

Suspended execution of part of the sentence is revoked in the following cases; provided, however, that item (iii) does not apply when the subject person is a person set forth in item (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 27-2:

Suspended execution of part of the sentence may be revoked in the following cases:

When a suspension of execution of the sentence in part is revoked pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two Articles, the concurrent suspension of execution of another sentence to imprisonment is also revoked.

①When a period of suspended execution of the sentence in part elapses without rescission, the imprisonment is mitigated to the imprisonment with the term of imprisonment equal to the portion of the term for which the suspension of execution was not granted. In this case, the subject person is deemed to have served the punishment and completed the execution on the day the execution of such portion of the term is completed or the person becomes no longer subject to the execution of such sentence.

②Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, if a prosecution has been instituted for a crime committed again after the suspended execution of the sentence in part is granted and before the period of suspended execution elapses (limited to a crime punishable by a fine or a greater punishment), the mitigation under the first sentence of the preceding paragraph is not to be made during the period from the day on which that period elapses until the grant of suspended execution of the sentence in part under the second sentence of this paragraph can no longer be revoked pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or (5) (hereinafter referred to as the "period of continued effect" in this paragraph and the following paragraph). In this case, with regard to the sentence referred to in that paragraph, suspended execution of the sentence for the suspended portion is deemed to have been granted during that period of continued effect.

③Notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, with regard to the application of the following provisions during the period of continued effect, the sentence referred to in that paragraph is deemed to have been mitigated under the first sentence of paragraph (1) and to have been completely served on the day prescribed in the second sentence of that paragraph:

④In the case referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2), if the person is sentenced to imprisonment or a greater punishment for that crime, the grant of suspended execution of the sentence in part under the second sentence of that paragraph must be revoked; provided, however, that this does not apply if that crime has been punished as a crime for consolidated punishment together with a crime committed after the period of suspension referred to in the first sentence of that paragraph elapsed, and it is found inappropriate in consideration of the circumstances of the crime and other circumstances.

⑤In the case referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2), if the person is sentenced to a fine for that crime, the grant of suspended execution of the sentence in part under the second sentence of that paragraph may be revoked.

⑥When a suspension of execution of the sentence in part is revoked pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the concurrent suspension of execution of another sentence to imprisonment is also revoked.

When a person sentenced to imprisonment evinces signs of substantial reformation, the person may be paroled by a disposition of a government agency after that person has served one-third of the definite term sentenced or 10 years in the case of a life imprisonment.

①Parole may be revoked in the following cases:

②When a person is granted a suspended execution of the sentence in part and receives a disposition of parole for the crime, and such suspended execution is revoked during such parole, such disposition ceases to be effective.

③When a parole is revoked, or a disposition of parole ceases to be effective pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, the number of days during the parole is not to be included into the term of imprisonment.

①A person under penal detention may be provisionally released by a disposition of a government agency at any time when circumstances so warrant.

②The same applies to a person under detention owing to payment default of a fine or petty fine.

Prescription is to have the effect of remitting the sentence (excluding the death penalty) of a person who has been sentenced to punishment.

Prescription takes effect when a punishment has not been executed within any of the following terms after a sentence has become final and binding:

①Prescription is not to run while execution of the sentence is suspended or stayed in accordance with laws and regulations.

②If a person who has been sentenced is outside Japan, prescription of imprisonment, a fine, penal detention and a petty fine does not run during the period in which the person is outside Japan.

①The period of prescription of imprisonment or penal detention is interrupted when the sentenced person is in custody for the purpose of execution of the punishment.

②The period of prescription of a fine, petty fine or confiscation is interrupted when an act of execution takes place.

①When ten years have passed since a person completed the imprisonment or a greater punishment or the person had such punishment remitted without another sentence of a fine or a greater punishment being imposed, the sentence ceases to have effect. The same applies when five years have passed since a person completed a fine or a lesser punishment or had the execution of such punishment remitted without another sentence to a fine or a greater punishment being imposed.

②In the case of a person who was sentenced to a remitted punishment without being further sentenced to a fine or a greater punishment during a period of two years since such sentence became final and binding, the sentence ceases to have effect.

An act performed in accordance with laws and regulations or in the pursuit of lawful business is not punishable.

①An act a person was compelled to take to protect the rights of oneself or any other person against imminent and unlawful infringement is not punishable.

②An act exceeding the limits of self-defense may lead to the punishment being reduced or may exculpate the offender in light of the circumstances.

①An act a person was compelled to take to avert a present danger to the life, body, liberty or property of oneself or any other person is not punishable only when the harm produced by such act does not exceed the harm to be averted; provided, however, that an act causing excessive harm may lead to the punishment being reduced or may exculpate the offender in light of the circumstances.

②The preceding paragraph does not apply to a person under special professional obligation.

①An act performed without the intent to commit a crime is not punishable; provided, however, that the same does not apply unless otherwise specially provided for by law.

②When a person who commits a crime was not aware of the fact that the crime constituted a greater crime, the person may not be punished for the greater crime.

③A person lacking knowledge of law does not mean a lack of intention to commit a crime; provided, however, the punishment may be reduced in light of the circumstances.

①Actions due to insanity is not subject to punishment.

②An act of diminished capacity leads to the punishment being reduced.

An act of a person less than 14 years of age is not punishable.

①The punishment of a person who committed a crime and self- denounces themselves before being discovered as a suspect by an investigative authority may be reduced.

②The preceding paragraph also applies with respect to a crime which cannot be prosecuted without a criminal complaint, and to a person who surrendered themselves to a person who has a right to make the criminal complaint.

The punishment of a person who commences a crime without completing it may be reduced; provided, however, that voluntary abandonment of commission of the crime, leads to the punishment being reduced or the offender being exculpated.

An attempt is punishable only when specifically so provided in the Article concerned.

Two or more crimes which have been committed but for which no judgment has yet become final and binding are to constitute crimes for consolidated punishments. When a judgment imposing imprisonment or a greater punishment becomes final and binding for a crime, only that crime and other crimes committed before such judgment became final and binding constitute crimes for a consolidated punishment.

①When a death penalty is rendered for one of the crimes for consolidated punishments, no other punishments except confiscation may be imposed.

②When a punishment of imprisonment for life is to be rendered for one of the crimes for consolidated punishment, no other punishment except a fine, petty fine and confiscation may be imposed.

When the crimes for consolidated punishment include two or more crimes punishable by imprisonment for a definite term, the maximum term of the punishment to be imposed for such crimes is the term obtained by adding half of the maximum term prescribed for the crime of the severest punishment, but not exceeding the total of the maximum terms of the punishments prescribed for each of the crimes.

①A fine and other punishments are imposed cumulatively, except in the case prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 46.

②The maximum amount of a fine to be imposed for a crime for consolidated punishment is not to exceed the total of the maximum amount of the fine prescribed for each crime.

①With respect to the crimes for consolidated punishment, even when confiscation is not imposed for the crime of the severest punishment, confiscation may be imposed for the other crimes if there are grounds to do so.

②Two or more confiscations are imposed cumulatively.

When the punishment for one of the crimes for consolidated punishment has become final and binding, a punishment is rendered to the other crimes.

①When two or more punishments have been rendered in regard to the crimes for consolidated punishment, the punishments are executed cumulatively; provided, however, that when the death penalty is to be executed, no other punishment except confiscation is executed, and when imprisonment for life is to be executed, no other punishment except a fine, petty fine and confiscation is executed.

②When two or more punishments of imprisonment for a definite term are executed in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the maximum term to be executed may not exceed the term obtained by adding half of the maximum term prescribed for the crime of the greatest punishment.

When a person who has been sentenced for crimes for consolidated punishment is granted general amnesty for any of such crimes, the punishment to be executed for the other crimes is redetermined.

①Penal detention or a petty fine is imposed cumulatively with other punishments; provided, however, that the same does not apply in the cases prescribed for in Article 46.

②Two or more penal detentions or petty fines are imposed cumulatively.

①When a single act constitutes two or more separate crimes, or when an act as the means or results of a crime constitutes another crime, the most severe punishment prescribed for such crimes is imposed.

②The provision of paragraph (2) of Article 49 applies in the case prescribed for in the preceding paragraph.

①If a person sentenced to imprisonment, reoffends within five years from the day on which the authorities have finished executing that sentence or the person was granted a discharge from its execution, and the person is sentenced to imprisonment for a definite term, this crime constitutes a recidivist offense.

②The preceding paragraph also applies if a person sentenced to the death penalty commits a crime again within five years from the day on which the person was granted a discharge from the execution of that sentence or, from the day on which the authorities have finished executing the reduced sentence imposed after the death penalty was reduced to imprisonment or the day on which the person was granted a discharge from its execution, and the person is to be sentenced to imprisonment for a definite term.

The maximum term of punishment for a recidivist offense is to be twice the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for the crime in question or less.

A person to be sentenced for a third or further offense is dealt with as with the recidivist offense.

Two or more persons who commit a crime in joint action are all principals.

①A person who induces another person to commit a crime is dealt with in sentencing as the principal offender.

②The same applies to a person who was involved in inducing the inducer.

①A person who aids the principal offender is an accessory.

②A person who induced an accessory is dealt with in sentencing as an accessory.

The punishment of an accessory is to be reduced from the punishment for the principal.

A person who induces or aids a crime subject only to penal detention or a petty fine is not punished for a crime except as otherwise specially provided.

①When a person collaborates in a criminal act in which the status of the criminal establishes the criminal's punishability, the person is an accomplice even without such status.

②When the severity of a punishment varies depending upon whether or not a criminal has a certain status, a normal punishment is imposed on a person without such status.

Punishment may be reduced in light of the extenuating circumstances of a crime.

Even if the punishment is aggravated or reduced in accordance with a statute, it may be reduced in light of circumstances.

When there are one or more statutory grounds for reduction of punishment, the following rules apply:

When a statutory reduction of punishment is to be made in a case where two or more types of punishments are prescribed in the applicable provision, it is made after the types of punishments to be imposed have been determined.

When a fraction of less than one day remains as a result of reduction of imprisonment or penal detention, such fraction is rounded down.

The rules prescribed in Article 68 and the preceding Article also apply when a reduction is to be made in light of extenuating circumstances.

When a punishment is to be aggravated or reduced in the same case, the following order applies:

①A person who participates in a riot for the purpose of overthrowing the government, usurping the territorial sovereignty of the State, or otherwise subverting constitutional order, thereby committing the crime of insurrection is sentenced according to the following distinctions:

②Any attempt to commit the crimes prescribed under the preceding paragraph is punished; provided, however, that the same does not apply to a person provided for in item (iii) of the same paragraph.

A person who prepares for or plots an insurrection is punished by imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less.

A person who aids the commission of any of the crimes prescribed under the preceding two Articles by the supply of arms, funds or food, or by any other act, is punished by imprisonment for 7 years or less.

A person who, after committing any of the crimes prescribed under the preceding two Articles, self-denounces themselves before participating in the riot, is exculpated.

A person who conspires with a foreign state and thereby causes the state to exercise armed force against Japan is punished by the death penalty.

When a foreign state takes military action against Japan, a person who sides with the foreign state by providing military service to such state, or otherwise gives military advantage to such state, is sentenced to the death penalty or imprisonment either for life or for a definite term of 2 years or more.

Any attempt to commit the crimes prescribed under Articles 81 and 82 is punished.

A person who prepares for or plots any of the crimes prescribed under Articles 81 and 82 is punished by imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less.

①A person who damages, removes or defiles the national flag or other national emblem of a foreign state for the purpose of insulting the foreign state is punished by imprisonment for 2 years or less or a fine of 200,000 yen or less.

②The crime prescribed under the preceding paragraph is not to be prosecuted without the request of the government of such state.

A person who prepares or plots to wage war privately upon a foreign state is punished by imprisonment for 3 months or more and 5 years or less; provided, however, that the person who self-denounces is exculpated.

A person who violates an order of neutrality in a war between foreign states is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 500,000 yen or less.

①A person who assaults or uses intimidation against a public employee in the performance of public duty is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 500,000 yen or less.

②The same applies to a person who assaults or uses intimidation against a public employee in order to cause the employee to make a certain disposition or not as an employee or to cause the employee to resign.

A person who, while a public employee is in the performance of public duty, prevents a computer used for that duty from operating in line with the purpose of its use or causes it to operate counter to the purpose of its use, by damaging such computer or any electronic or magnetic record used by such computer, by inputting false data or giving unauthorized commands to a computer used for that duty, or by any other means, is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 500,000 yen or less.

A person who damages a seal or a mark of attachment which has been affixed by a public employee or by any other means impairs the seal or an order or disposition regarding the mark of attachment is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 2,500,000 yen or less, or both.

A person who engages in any of the following acts for the purpose of obstructing compulsory execution is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 2,500,000 yen or less, or both; the same applies to a person who became aware of the circumstances, and became the other party to the transfer or the creation of rights prescribed in item (iii):

①A person who, by the use of fraudulent means or force, enters the real estate and obstructs confirmation by the possessor and other acts of compulsory execution is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 2,500,000 yen or less, or both.

②The same applies to a person who commits an assault or intimidation against a person eligible to file a petition for compulsory execution or an agent thereof, for the purpose of having the eligible person refrain from filing the petition or having that person withdraw the petition.

A person who, by the use of fraudulent means or force, commits an act which impairs the fairness of a sale which has been made or is to be made through compulsory execution, is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 2,500,000 yen or less, or both.

A person who, for the purpose of obtaining or having another person obtain reward, commits any of the crimes prescribed in Article 96 through the preceding Article in connection with debts of another person is punished by imprisonment for 5 years or less or a fine of 5,000,000 yen or less, or both.

①A person who, by the use of fraudulent means or force, commits an act which impairs the fairness of a public auction or bid held for concluding a contract, is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 2,500,000 yen or less, or both.

②The same applies to a person who colludes for the purpose of preventing a fair determination of price or acquiring a wrongful gain.

When a person confined in accordance with laws and regulations escapes, imprisonment for 3 years or less is imposed.

When a person who is provided for in the preceding Article escapes either by damaging the facilities or instruments of restraint for confinement, by committing an act of assault or intimidation, or in conspiracy with two or more persons, imprisonment for 3 months or more and 5 years or less is imposed.

A person who removes a detained or confined person in accordance with the laws and regulations from authorities is punished by imprisonment for 3 months or more and 5 years or less.

①A person who provides the confined person with tools or instruments or performs any act which would facilitate the confined person's escape for the purpose of facilitating an escape of a person detained or confined in accordance with laws and regulations is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less.

②A person who assaults or uses intimidation for the purposes prescribed in the preceding paragraph is punished by imprisonment for 3 months or more and 5 years or less.

When a person, guarding or escorting another detained or confined person in accordance with laws and regulations aids the detainee's escape, imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less is imposed.

An attempt to commit the crimes prescribed under this Chapter is punished.

A person who harbors or enables the escape of another person who has either committed a crime punishable with a fine or a severer punishment or has escaped from confinement, is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 300,000 yen or less.

A person who spoils, damages, counterfeits or alters evidence relating to a criminal case of another person, or who uses counterfeit or altered evidence, is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 300,000 yen or less.

When a crime prescribed under the preceding two Articles is committed for the benefit of the criminal or fugitive by a relative of such person, the relative may be exempted.

A person in relation to their own criminal case or the criminal case of another person, forcibly demands without just cause a meeting with, or uses intimidation against any person who is considered to have knowledge necessary for the investigation or trial of the criminal case, or a relative of that person, is punished by imprisonment for 2 years or less or a fine of 300,000 yen or less.

A person who assembles in a crowd and assaults or uses intimidation thereby committing the crime of disturbance is sentenced according to the following distinctions:

When a crowd assembles for the purpose of assaulting or using intimidation and refuses to disperse after being ordered three times or more to disperse by a public employee with authority, the ringleader is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less and the others by a fine of 100,000 yen or less.

A person who sets fire to and burns a building, train, tram, vessel or mine which is being used as a dwelling or for which a person is actually present is punished by the death penalty or imprisonment for life or for a definite term of 5 years or more.

①A person who sets fire to and burns a building, vessel, or mine not being used as dwelling or in which persons are not actually present is punished by imprisonment for a definite term of 2 years or more.

②When the object prescribed in the preceding paragraph belongs to the offender, imprisonment for 6 months or more and 7 years or less is imposed; provided, however, that if there is no resulting danger to the public, such act is not punishable.

①A person who sets fire to and burns any object not provided for in the preceding two Articles and thereby endangers the public is punished by imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less.

②When the object prescribed for in the preceding paragraph belongs to the offender, imprisonment for 1 year or less or a fine of 100,000 yen or less is imposed.

①As a result of commission of the crime prescribed under paragraph (2) of Article 109 or paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, if a fire spreads to and burns any object provided in Article 108 or paragraph (1) of Article 109, imprisonment for 3 months or more and 10 years or less is imposed.

②As a result of commission of the crime prescribed under paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, if a fire spreads to and burns any object prescribed in paragraph (1) of that Article, imprisonment for 3 years or less is imposed.

Any attempt to commit the crimes prescribed under Article 108 and paragraph (1) of Article 109 is punished.

A person who makes preparations with the intention of committing a crime prescribed under Article 108 or paragraph (1) of Article 109, is punished by imprisonment for 2 years or less; provided, however, that the person may be exempted from the punishment in light of circumstances.

In the event of a fire, a person who obstructs fire-fighting by concealing or damaging a fire-fighting equipment or by any other means, is punished by imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less.

Even when the object prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 109 or paragraph (1) of Article 110 belongs to an offender, the offender is dealt with as an offender who has burned another person's object when the object is subject to attachment, encumbrance, lease, the establishment of a spouse's right of residence or insurance.

①A person who causes a fire through negligence and thereby burns the object provided for in Article 108 or the object provided for in Article 109 which belongs to another person is punished by a fine of not more than 500,000 yen.

②The same applies to a person who causes a fire through negligence and thereby burns any of the person's own objects provided for in Article 109 or any object provided for in Article 110 and thereby endangers the public.

①A person who damages the object prescribed in Article 108 or the object prescribed in Article 109 which belongs to another person by detonating gunpowder, a steam-boiler or other explosive objects is dealt with in the same manner as in the case of committing arson. The same also applies to a person who damages the object prescribed in Article 109 which belongs to the person or the object prescribed in Article 110 and thereby endangers the public.

②When an act provided for in the preceding paragraph is caused through negligence, it is dealt with in the same manner as in the case of fire caused through negligence.

When an act prescribed in Article 116 or in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is committed as a result of a failure to exercise necessary care in the pursuit of social activities or due to gross negligence, imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 1,500,000 yen or less is imposed.

①A person who causes gas, electricity, or steam to leak or flow out or to be cut off and thereby endangers the life, body or property of another person is punished by imprisonment for 3 years or less or a fine of 100,000 yen or less.

②A person who causes gas, electricity or steam to leak or flow out or to be cut off and thereby causes the death or injury of another person is sentenced to the punishment prescribed for the crimes of injury or the preceding paragraph whichever is greater.

A person who causes a flood to damage a building, train, tram, or a mine that is being used as a dwelling or in which a person is actually present is punished by the death penalty or imprisonment for life or for a definite term of 3 years or more.

①A person who causes a flood to damage any object not provided in the preceding Article and thereby endangers the public is punished by imprisonment for 1 year or more and 10 years or less.

②When the object damaged by a flood belongs to the offender, the provision of the preceding paragraph applies only when the object is subject to attachment, encumbrance, lease, the establishment of a spouse's right of residence or insurance.

In the event of a flood, a person who obstructs flood prevention by concealing or damaging flood prevention equipment or by any other means, is punished by imprisonment for one year or more and 10 years or less.

A person who causes a flood due to negligence either to damage an object provided for in Article 119 or to damage an object provided for in Article 120 and thereby endangers the public, is punished by a fine of not more than 200,000 yen.

A person who causes an embankment to collapse, destroys a water gate or commits any other acts to obstruct water management or to cause a flood is punished by imprisonment for 2 years or less or a fine of 200,000 yen or less.

①A person who obstructs the flow of traffic by damaging, or blocking a road, waterway or bridge is punished by imprisonment for 2 years or less or a fine of 200,000 yen or less.

②A person who commits a crime prescribed under the preceding paragraph, and thereby causes the death or injury to another person is dealt with by the punishment prescribed for the crimes of injury or the preceding paragraph whichever is greater.