Crime

“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.”  Ecclesiastes 8:12

We were still newbies to Japan when my wife absentmindedly left her newly purchased bike unlocked in the designated parking area of the local supermarket. She returned shortly afterwards to sadly discover that her bike had been stolen, which we duly reported to the local police. We had been operating under the impression that crime was not a major concern in Japan, which is generally true, except when it comes to bicycles as we learned later. Despite this unfortunate incident, we continued to walk the streets at night without fear and often left our house or car unlocked (but not our bikes!).

Japan’s crime rate is indeed remarkably low when compared to other first world countries. For example, according to recent statistics, the rate of violent crime in the United States is 148 times higher than that of Japan. The overall crime rate in Japan is just a fourth of what is recorded in the U.S. This statistical contrast is also reflected in the respective prison populations of both countries, where the number of incarcerated people in the States is fourteen times higher than that of Japan. The most frequent crime in Japan is theft, which makes up more than 70 percent of all illegal activities.

Sociologists point to a number of likely reasons for this vast disparity in criminal incidents between Japan and other modern nations. Some of the more obvious factors are a very visible police presence, widespread community cooperation, a heavy emphasis on teaching moral values in school curriculums and very strict gun control laws. But there are other, more subtle influences present in Japanese culture that serve to effectively suppress criminal activities. One is the power of shame that is deeply rooted in many Asian nations. In contrast to guilt, which underlies much of Western culture and conduct, shame is driven and shaped by outward societal forces that demand conformity from all its members to an unwritten code. The possibility of incurring shame on one’s family, class, company or social circle serves as a powerful deterrent to a significant amount of misconduct and unacceptable behavior. The low crime statistics in Japan are also partially explained by the incredibly high conviction rate of 99 percent in all state prosecutions. Although many are of a dubious nature, confessions comprise a stunning 89 percent of convictions, which helps keep law breakers off the streets and out of trouble.

While we may certainly admire the low crime rate in Japan, none of these elements that keep illegal behavior in check actually address the more important issues of the heart where all criminal aspirations and activities originate. The Psalmist clearly states this connection when he prays, “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds.” (Psalm 141:4) This prayer is an accurate acknowledgement that all crime is essentially a spiritual problem. However, this is particularly a challenging truth to communicate in Japan because of the common translation for the word “sin,” which is “tsumi” (罪) in Japanese.

Within the term tsumi, the concepts of crime and sin are used interchangeably, which creates an unfortunate confusion. In normal usage, crime refers to an infraction of societal laws, whereas sin involves the breaking of God’s laws, which is far more serious in nature. The ultimate solution to crime is a belief in the Gospel, or the Good News of Jesus Christ, and a necessary prerequisite to that is an honest appraisal of one’s sinful heart before a holy, just God. Herein lies a significant problem in Japan with the word tsumi. Very few Japanese are willing to think of themselves as sinners because they have not broken any laws (crime) and fail to grasp they have broken the eternal laws of God (sin). Crime may be minimal in Japan, but sin remains unchecked.