Tokyo, Japan – The Japanese government on Tuesday put forward emergency and strict measures aimed at preventing further harm and protecting victims from stalking and harassment crimes, which will include studying the possibility of requiring perpetrators to wear GPS-based tracking devices.
Details of government plans and technologies used
These new plans, presented during the ministerial meeting on combating crime, come as the government examines several international experiences where special tracking devices have been used to monitor sex offenders and stalkers. In this context, the Japanese government will investigate the latest technologies that enable miniaturization of these devices for practical use, and will also undertake a comprehensive review of the current anti-stalking law to enhance its effectiveness.
GPS tracking devices will be issued to individuals subject to official restraining orders designed to prevent them from approaching or stalking their victims, with alert mechanisms in place to ensure the victim is immediately notified if the perpetrator approaches. Further discussions are planned to determine whether the use of these monitoring devices should be limited to the most serious and public safety threats.
The escalation of the phenomenon and the motives behind government action
The phenomenon of stalking has garnered increasing attention and significant importance in Japan in recent years; official data shows that 3,037 restraining orders were issued in 2025 alone, the highest number since 2000 when the anti-stalking law came into effect. Anticipated legal amendments may also include a requirement for stalkers to undergo mandatory counseling sessions to correct their behavior.
These stricter proposals come in the wake of a shocking incident in which a woman was stabbed to death by her ex-partner at her workplace in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district last March. The suspect had been arrested last year for stalking the same woman and was placed under a formal restraining order in January, prompting authorities to review existing protection loopholes.
