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Crime in Japan Falls to Lowest Level in More Than 70 Years

Crime in Japan is dropping amid the longest economic expansion in almost three decades,
making one of the safest nations even safer.

The number of recorded crimes fell to 915,042 in 2016, the lowest level in the postwar era,
according to data released by the National Police Agency. That came as the nation’s economy
had its longest run of sustained growth in almost 30 years, which drove the unemployment rate
down to 2.8 percent.

“The economic recovery is helping crimes go down,” said Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist
at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. “The need to steal goes down when you have a
secure job.”

There may be other factors for the drop in crime - closer coordination between local volunteers
and the police, and the wider use of surveillance cameras have helped prevention, according to
the National Police Agency.

But it’s not just the reduction in crime that’s making people feel safer. Suicides are at their
lowest level since 1991, and odds of getting back lost money are rising in Tokyo.

Still, it’s not rosy everywhere. Masayuki Kiriu, a professor of social psychology at Toyo
University in Tokyo, said the forms of crime may be changing. Instead of robbing a safe or bank,
criminals are trying to take advantage of the increasing number of old people, who generally
have more financial assets.

There’s been an increase in so-called "grandparent scams," in which a criminal calls an elderly
person, pretends to be a relative (often a child or a grandchild) in distress, and asks for money.

“Those who commit crimes figure a bank robbery doesn’t make sense considering the costs and
benefits," said Kiriu, who used to work at a national research institute for police science. "They
are acting rationally in their view.”

Vocabulary

Amid –
Example:

Sustained –
Example:

Reduction –
Example:

Distress –
Example:
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Rational:
Example:

Memory:

1. What was the custom that many Japanese women must follow every Valentine’s Day?
2. What is expected of the men who receive chocolates on Valentine’s Day?
3. What was the biggest reason why women dislike giving obligation chocolates?

Comprehension:

1. What was the attitude of women towards the tradition of “giri-choco?”

2. How can women’s opposition to obligation chocolates affect workplace relations?
3. What was the reaction of chocolate makers towards this opposition to obligation
chocolates?

Analysis:

1. Do you agree that giving obligation chocolates among women should be abolished?
2. Have you personally seen a decrease in this practice in the company you are working
with?

Application:

1. List down some reasons how the celebration of Valentine’s Day has affected Japanese
business and economy.

Effects on the Economy

Valentine’s Day

Synthesis:

1. Propose a plan on how men and women can effectively work together in the workplace.

Evaluation:
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1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is promoting an increase in the number of women in Japan’s
workforce. How do you think can this affect Japanese economy as a whole?

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-21/crime-hits-postwar-low-in-japan-
as-joblessness-declines