: Historical texts like the Kojiki mention bestiality as a "crime against animals," listing specific examples like horses and dogs.
The most striking fact about the legal landscape in Japan is the . As of current legislation, neither the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal (zoophilia) nor the ownership or distribution of pornography depicting such acts is explicitly illegal. This places Japan in a small group of countries, alongside nations like Chile, Hungary, and Russia, where human-animal sexual conduct is not explicitly prohibited by federal law. japanese beastiality new
Public health and safety are also critical considerations when addressing topics like bestiality. The potential for zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans) and the psychological impacts on individuals involved are areas of concern. : Historical texts like the Kojiki mention bestiality
Another striking case that emerged in 2025 involves a Japanese national, , a Keio University graduate who was arrested in Malta in August 2025. Okamura was caught on security cameras picking up a cat by its tail, swinging it around, and repeatedly slamming its head into the ground. He was subsequently arrested and, in October 2025, sentenced to two years in prison by a Maltese court. This places Japan in a small group of
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The existence of bestiality in Japan is not a new phenomenon. Historically, it has appeared in both legal codes and artistic expression. Ancient Japanese laws, as recorded in the , explicitly prohibited sexual intercourse with animals, defining it as a "crime against animals" for species such as dogs, horses, cows, and chickens. Despite these prohibitions, the practice persisted in the shadows of civil society. Historically, it was associated with the entertainment of red-light districts and the sexual desires of those who were isolated or marginalized.