Towards Sustainable Crime-Prevention Activities in Japan: The Possibilities and Limits of Volunteer Groups

Although the Japanese public has strong concerns about kidnappings, identity theft and billing fraud, cybercrime, elderly crime, and recidivism, the crime rate in Japan is lower than in most Western countries. Volunteer crime prevention activities are said to play an instrumental role in the reduction of crime and preservation of community cohesion. This article reviews the historical development of social cohesion in Japan and examines how its decline since World War II has presented challenges to the sustainability of volunteer crime prevention activities in local communities. The author suggests that in addition to encouraging traditional volunteer groups, non-profit-organisations could be incorporated especially into urban areas to sustain preventative activities and thereby reduce crime rates.