The Hidden Trade-Offs of Japan’s Crime-Free Society

Before stepping foot on a plane to Japan, Americans are sternly warned: Don’t even think about packing that weed pen. Japan’s zero-tolerance drug laws make no exceptions, and possession of even trace amounts of cannabis can get you arrested, deported, and banned for life. This hardline stance reflects a sharp cultural and legal divergence with Western nations, where cannabis legalization is spreading rapidly.

In this case and many others, the Japanese prioritize social stability over personal liberty. This trade-off has given Japan among the lowest crime rates in the world, with only 0.2 intentional homicides per 100,000 people—30 times fewer than in the United States. While policymakers like to talk about dramatically reducing crime, Japan gives us a real-world example of what it takes to get truly tough.

Public Safety on Steroids

In Tokyo, the sense of security on the streets is palpable, occasionally verging on the surreal. For example, it is not unusual to find a six- or seven-year-old alone in a packed subway car, parents nowhere to be found. A few years ago, a show called “Old Enough!,” which chronicles the adventures of free-range toddlers in rural Japan, became an unexpected hit on Netflix. For American helicopter parents, sending a small child to the grocery store or to grandma’s house solo is practically unthinkable.

Source: World Bank Group

Theft, robbery, and violent crime in Japan have all declined steadily over the past decade, and that pace seems to be accelerating. How is this possible? One explanation is economic. Unlike the United States, Japan has low levels of wealth inequality—a central driver of crime. Another explanation is demographic. With a native-born population of 97 percent, Japan is among the least diverse societies on the planet. Research has indicated that racial homogeneity is associated with lower crime rates.

Japan’s abundant social capital and cultural cohesion also translates into one of the world’s lowest incarceration rates. Japan has the death penalty, but with a twist: The condemned aren’t informed of their execution date until the morning it’s scheduled to occur. Human rights advocates have criticized this practice, arguing that death row inmates should have more opportunity to appeal. Combined with a 99 percent conviction rate, Japan’s unique approach to justice serves as an effective psychological deterrent to lethal violence.

Spiritual Broken Windows

Physical and spiritual cleanliness are interlinked in Japanese culture. The philosophy parallels the Broken Windows Theory of crime, which suggests that minor signs of disorder (like broken windows or graffiti) subtly degrade respect for the law, encouraging more serious criminality. Similarly, Japan’s meticulous cleanliness functions as an unspoken deterrent to misbehavior, reinforcing a high standard of order that infuses the entire society.

Japan’s urban hygiene remains excellent despite the notable absence of public trash cans. These were removed in 1995, after a doomsday cult used the trash to hide nerve gas on the Tokyo subway, killing 13 and injuring approximately 5,800. Ironically, removing the receptacles has made Tokyo one of the cleanest cities in the world. Despite the inconvenience, people quickly adapted to disposing of trash at home, internalizing the idea that keeping the city clean isn’t up to the government—it’s everyone’s duty.

The High Cost of Low Crime

Cultural distinctions shape our national identity and influence what we value. Taking responsibility for one’s own trash is indicative of a culture that promotes collective well-being over individuality. Temperamentally, the United States is at the other end of the spectrum. For example, Japan has no equivalent to the Second Amendment, resulting in a country almost entirely free of gun violence. This makes living in Japan safer, but at the expense of individual firearm rights.

The public safety calculus in America is precisely the opposite. We thrive on risk, freedom, and the unpredictable sparks of creativity that come with them. Japan’s strict cultural conformity creates an environment that, while safe and harmonious, leaves less room for contrarian ideas and disruptive innovations that drive growth. These forces have given America the most dynamic, innovative economy in the world, propelling the S&P 500 up 300 percent over the past 30 years while Japan’s Nikkei 225 has remained flat.

Public policy is all about trade-offs. By emphasizing safety over liberty, Japan has virtually eliminated crime—but at a cost few Americans would be willing to pay. The answer is not to change the Constitution or our national character, but to apply American ingenuity to community-based solutions and draw lessons from other cultures while maintaining the chaotic, multi-ethnic spirit that makes us who we are.