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Japan: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Japan
A dedicated anti-bullying law since 2013 covers online bullying; since 2025 big platforms must answer removal requests quickly.
Compare with anywhere elseProtection score
One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. The Act for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Bullying (2013) requires every school to adopt an anti-bullying policy and set up an anti-bullying team.
Legal detail and sources
Act No. 71 of 2013. Schools must investigate suspected bullying and report 'serious incidents' to their founding body, and the school or founding body must investigate them.
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The law's definition of bullying includes acts done over the internet, and schools and governments must take measures against online bullying.
Legal detail and sources
Article 2 (definition) and Article 19 (measures against bullying through the internet).
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. There is no takedown regulator, but since April 2025 the largest platforms must set up removal-request channels and answer requests within set deadlines.
Legal detail and sources
Information Distribution Platform Act (formerly the Provider Liability Limitation Act), in force 1 April 2025. Designated platforms include Google, LINE Yahoo, Meta, TikTok and X. The Ministry of Justice's human rights bureaus can also ask platforms to delete abusive posts.
- No:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No legal minimum age. A government panel rejected a blanket age ban in June 2026, favouring stronger age checks and safer default settings instead.
Legal detail and sources
Most platforms set 13 as their own minimum. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Asia News Network), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Partly:
What are the rules on phones at school?
No national ban. Under 2020 education ministry guidance, junior high schools may let students bring phones under conditions, but not use them in school; high schools set their own rules.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Jiji Press), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Partly:
When is online abuse a crime?
There is no bullying offence, but online insults can be prosecuted. Since 2022 the penalty for insult can include up to one year in prison.
Legal detail and sources
Penal Code Article 231 (insult), strengthened in July 2022; defamation (Article 230), intimidation and stalking laws can also apply.
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. Each school's anti-bullying team includes teachers and specialists such as school counselors, and the law calls for staff training.
Legal detail and sources
Articles 18 and 22 of the Act.
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