Kulturowe, religijne i społeczne czynniki wpływające na popełnianie zbrodni w Japonii

Abstrakt

Japan is known worldwide for its exceptionally low crime rate and overall public safety. This status is supported by the synergy of strict legal measures, high trust in institutions, and culturally rooted norms of social harmony and responsibility. This article provides an analysis of factors specific to Japan that influence the commission of specific crimes, their social perception, and ultimately the imposition of punishment. It examines cultural, religious, and social factors influencing the commission of crimes.

A characteristic cultural feature is the cha-no ma – the family living room – as a symbolic and practical center of moral education. In this space, children are socialized through exposure to television and social narratives, which are discussed in the setting of an extended family. Such close family relations and discussions reinforce ethical behavior and community expectations. However, the existence of spaces such as cha-no ma, which serve to transmit traditional values, is threatened by social changes – small families and a general closure of face-to-face communication in favor of the Internet. In addition, many aspects of Japanese culture, especially its multi-layered nature, resulting from the coexistence of four basic philosophical systems – Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism – overlaid with secular and technological Western influences, reinforce self-discipline, a love of order, a sense of duty, and acting in accordance with accepted rules, that is, in accordance with the law. Central to the social order in Japan is the role of traditional values such as harmony (wa), duty (giri), and shame (haji), which together act as informal deterrents to bad behavior. The criminal justice system emphasizes both deterrence and rehabilitation, especially for youth, often favoring moral reform over penal isolation.

While public crimes are rare, there are hidden problems – such as bullying, domestic violence, sexual offenses, assisted suicides, etc. – that are often silenced and insufficiently stigmatized. However, these negative phenomena are increasingly publicized through media channels and fi lms, suggesting a dynamic relationship between tradition and modern reforms. Japan’s security is therefore not simply a function of legal control, but a product of deeply intertwined cultural, family, and institutional forces shaping collective behavior.