Lawmakers in Japan unanimously passed key reforms to sex crime legislation, raising the age of consent from 13 to 16 years old.

The reforms also address rape prosecution requirements and criminalize voyeurism. The Tokyo-based group Human Rights Now applauded the reforms as a significant step forward in combating sexual violence against children.

Previously, Japan's age of consent had remained unchanged since 1907, with children aged 13 and above considered capable of giving consent. However, regional ordinances banning inappropriate acts with minors effectively raised the age of consent to 18 in certain parts of the country.

The new law includes exemptions for teen couples with an age difference of no more than five years, provided both partners are over 13. These reforms follow previous revisions to Japan's criminal code on sexual offenses in 2017 and nationwide rallies in 2019, sparked by a series of acquittals in rape cases.

The latest reforms also criminalize voyeurism and impose penalties for secretly filming private body parts or indecent acts without justification.

While some residents welcomed the reforms, others expressed skepticism about their effectiveness in curbing voyeurism.