TOKYO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's National Police Agency said Thursday that the police handled 4,858 sexual assault cases involving victims under 18 across Japan in 2025, marking a third straight annual increase and the highest level in the past decade.
According to the data, 1,566 minors were subjected to rape and other sexual assaults in 2025 after meeting perpetrators through social media. Among them were 167 elementary school students, the highest number in the past 10 years.
The figures underscore mounting concern over crimes targeting minors, with authorities warning of a growing role played by social media platforms.
Cases involving sexually manipulated images of children created using artificial intelligence rose by four to 114, with middle and high school students accounting for nearly 90 percent of the victims, the police said. Enditem
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