令和7(わ)51 ストーカー行為等の規制等に関する法律違反、偽計業務妨害被告事件

In 2025, the Tokyo District Court heard a case (Reiwa 7 (wa) 51) involving a defendant accused of violating Japan's Act on the Regulation of Stalking Behavior and fraudulent obstruction of business. The accused allegedly engaged in persistent stalking of a female entertainer, sending threatening messages and making false reports of criminal activity to her management agency, which led to the cancellation of scheduled performances and significant business disruption. The indictment combined charges under the anti-stalking law and the Penal Code’s provision on obstructing business by deceit. This case drew attention to the intersection of cyber-harassment, celebrity stalking, and the legal tools available to combat such conduct.

The Tokyo District Court convicted the defendant, sentencing him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, suspended for 4 years, with supervised probation. The court found that the continuous messaging and false bomb threats constituted stalking and that the cancellation of events constituted actual business harm.

The key dispute centered on whether the defendant's actions met the legal threshold for "stalking" under the revised law, which required proving a pattern of repeated monitoring or pursuit causing fear. Additionally, the defense argued that the false reports were not directly connected to business operations, challenging the charge of fraudulent obstruction of business. The court had to determine the sufficiency of evidence linking the anonymous threats to the defendant and the causal relationship between the threats and the actual business losses.

The case prompted renewed public debate over stalking laws and the protection of public figures. Entertainment agencies strengthened security protocols, and legal experts called for clearer guidelines on online harassment. It also highlighted the psychological toll on victims and led to proposals for faster police response to stalking complaints.