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Country guide · Asia-Pacific

Defamation and Online Harassment Laws in Japan

In Japan, defamation is both a crime and a civil wrong. The Penal Code punishes publicly stating facts that damage someone's reputation, whether the facts are true or not, with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and since 2022 public insults can bring up to one year in prison. Victims can also sue under the Civil Code for damages and ask the court to order steps that restore their reputation, usually within three years of learning of the harm and who caused it.

Reviewed byIsabella Custódio Mesquita
Verified November 1, 2026
13 official sources

Time limit to sue (libel): 3 years
Time limit to sue (slander): 3 years
Criminal defamation: Can be a crime

This guide is general information about the law in Japan, checked against the sources listed below on November 1, 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different: for advice on your situation, speak to a qualified lawyer in Japan.

01Defamation law in Japan

Where the law comes from

Japanese defamation law is written law. The Civil Code makes a person who intentionally or negligently infringes another's rights liable for damages (Art. 709), expressly covers non-financial harm to reputation (Art. 710), and lets a court order measures to restore a victim's reputation (Art. 723). The Penal Code separately defines the crimes of defamation (Art. 230) and insult (Art. 231).

Sources1Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896), Arts. 709, 710, 723, 724, current text on e-Gov 2Civil Code, English translation (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice)3Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Arts. 230, 230-2, 231, 232, current text on e-Gov

Is defamation a crime?

Defamation is a crime in Japan. Publicly stating facts that damage a person's reputation is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, even if the facts are true (Penal Code Art. 230). Public insult without stating facts carries up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen, or lighter penalties, after a 2022 amendment that took effect on 7 July 2022. Both crimes can be prosecuted only if the victim files a criminal complaint (Art. 232).

Sources3Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Arts. 230, 230-2, 231, 232, current text on e-Gov 4Ministry of Justice, Q&A on the 2022 increase of the penalty for insult (Penal Code Art. 231)

Statute of limitations

Japanese civil law does not separate libel from slander. A damages claim expires three years after the victim learns of the harm and the identity of the person responsible, and in any case 20 years after the act (Civil Code Art. 724). For a criminal case, the victim must file a complaint within six months of learning who the offender is (Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 235), and prosecution for defamation or insult must begin within three years (Art. 250).

Sources1Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896), Arts. 709, 710, 723, 724, current text on e-Gov 2Civil Code, English translation (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice)5Code of Criminal Procedure (Act No. 131 of 1948), Arts. 235 and 250, current text on e-Gov 4Ministry of Justice, Q&A on the 2022 increase of the penalty for insult (Penal Code Art. 231)

Defamation per se

Japan does not use the common-law categories of defamation per se. Civil liability applies to any intentional or negligent harm to reputation, spoken or written, and covers emotional harm as well as financial loss (Civil Code Arts. 709 and 710). Spreading false rumors that damage a person's or business's credibility is a separate crime, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen (Penal Code Art. 233).

Retraction and correction

There is no general retraction statute for online content, but two laws come close. A court may order a person who defamed someone to take suitable steps to restore the victim's reputation, instead of or in addition to damages (Civil Code Art. 723). Under the Broadcast Act, a person harmed by an untrue broadcast can make a request to the broadcaster within three months of the broadcast; the broadcaster must look into it without delay and, if the report was untrue, air a correction or retraction within two days of finding that out (Art. 9).

Sources1Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896), Arts. 709, 710, 723, 724, current text on e-Gov 2Civil Code, English translation (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice)6Broadcast Act (Act No. 132 of 1950), Art. 9, current text on e-Gov

Defenses and public figures

For the crime of defamation, a statement is not punished if it concerns a matter of public interest, was made solely to benefit the public, and is proven true; facts about crimes not yet prosecuted count as matters of public interest, and for statements about public officials or election candidates proof of truth is enough (Penal Code Art. 230-2). The Ministry of Justice also states that fair comment and other legitimate expression are not punishable as insult because they are justified acts under Penal Code Art. 35.

Sources3Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Arts. 230, 230-2, 231, 232, current text on e-Gov 7Penal Code, English translation (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice)4Ministry of Justice, Q&A on the 2022 increase of the penalty for insult (Penal Code Art. 231)

02Online harassment, cyberstalking and doxxing in Japan

Cyberstalking

The Stalker Regulation Act covers unwanted conduct such as repeated emails, social media messages and similar electronic contact, telling a person things that harm their reputation or sexual dignity, and tracking their location without consent (Art. 2). It applies only when the conduct is driven by romantic feelings or resentment over rejected feelings. Doing these things repeatedly is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen, rising to two years or 2 million yen when it breaches a prohibition order (Arts. 18 and 19).

Source8Act on the Regulation of Stalking Behavior (Act No. 81 of 2000), Arts. 2, 18, 19, current text on e-Gov

Online harassment

Online abuse is usually handled through the defamation and insult crimes in the Penal Code (Arts. 230 and 231) together with Act No. 137 of 2001, which governs platforms. That law lets a victim ask a court to order a platform or internet provider to disclose who posted harmful content (Arts. 5 and 8). Since April 2025, large designated platforms must offer an online way to request removal, investigate without delay, and tell the requester their decision within a period of no more than 14 days set by ministerial ordinance (Arts. 22, 23 and 25).

Sources3Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Arts. 230, 230-2, 231, 232, current text on e-Gov 9Act No. 137 of 2001 on responses to rights infringement caused by information distributed via specified telecommunications, Arts. 3, 5, 8, 22, 23, 25, current text on e-Gov 10e-Gov revision history for Act No. 137 of 2001 (new title in force from 1 April 2025 under Act No. 25 of 2024)

Intimate images shared without consent

Posting private sexual images online in a way that lets others identify the person shown is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen; prosecution requires a complaint from the victim (Act No. 126 of 2014, Art. 3). A platform that removes such images at the victim's request is protected from claims by the poster if it asked the poster for consent and the poster did not object within two days (Art. 4). Under a separate 2023 law, secretly filming sexual images carries up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen, and sharing such recordings with many people up to five years, a fine of up to 5 million yen, or both (Act No. 67 of 2023, Arts. 2 and 3).

Sources11Act on the Prevention of Damage Caused by Providing Private Sexual Image Records (Act No. 126 of 2014), Arts. 3 and 4, current text on e-Gov 12Act on Punishment of Filming Sexual Poses and Related Acts (Act No. 67 of 2023), Arts. 2, 3, 5, current text on e-Gov

03Data protection and the right to have content removed

Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information lets a person ask a business to stop using or delete their personal data if it was handled or obtained unlawfully, if the business no longer needs it, if there was a data breach, or if the handling risks harming their rights or legitimate interests (Art. 35). The business must comply without delay when the request is justified, though it may take an alternative step if deletion would be very costly or difficult.

Source13Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Act No. 57 of 2003), Art. 35, current text on e-Gov

04How to remove defamatory content in Japan

How to remove defamatory content in Japan

A lawsuit is one route, but it is slow, costly and public. Much harmful content can come down sooner through the platform’s own reporting process, a legal notice to the site owner or host, or a removal request to search engines. The right route depends on where the content lives and on the law that applies to it.

Media Removal reviews each case and recommends the fastest route that fits it. Removal always depends on each platform and, where relevant, the courts.

How to report defamation on social media

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05Frequently asked questions about defamation in Japan

Is defamation a crime in Japan?

Yes. Publicly stating facts that damage someone's reputation can lead to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, even when the facts are true, and public insult can bring up to one year in prison. Prosecution happens only if the victim files a complaint.

How long do you have to sue for defamation in Japan?

A civil claim must generally be brought within three years of learning of the harm and who caused it, and no later than 20 years after the act. A criminal complaint must be filed within six months of learning who the offender is.

Is telling the truth a defense to defamation in Japan?

Not by itself. Under the Penal Code, a true statement is protected only if it concerns a matter of public interest and was made solely for the public benefit, although proof of truth is enough for statements about public officials or election candidates.

Can you find out who posted anonymous defamatory content in Japan?

A victim can ask a court to order a platform or internet provider to disclose the poster's identifying information, but only when it is clear that the victim's rights were infringed and there is a legitimate reason for disclosure; the court decides each case. Large designated platforms must also run a process for handling removal requests and reply within a set period.

Is revenge porn illegal in Japan?

Yes. Posting identifiable private sexual images without consent is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine, and secretly filming or sharing sexual images is punished under a separate 2023 law.

06Defamation laws in nearby countries