Research on the Fear of Crime: Perceptions and Realities of Crime in Japan

Abstract

Perceptions of crime do not necessarily reflect its realities. The leading works in Anglo-American criminology have focused on this asymmetry between perceptions and realities of crime. Although Japanese academics have conducted sporadic studies on the fear of crime, this area of research has not yet reached a mature stage. The public perception of Japan as a safe and secure country might explain this lack of research. At present, most people do not think of crime as common in their communities. The mass media, however, has focused on topical incidents of crime as representations of change in community order. Complex mechanisms function in and out of the community that should be explored to advance serious study on the fear of crime in Japan.