Japan's crime victims and survivors are often traumatized by insensitive police questioning and medical examinations, panelists said Monday during Tokyo's first official symposium for crime victims.

"I am struck by how we protect to an almost extreme degree the rights and privacy of perpetrators, while the rights of victims are ignored," said Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara.

Ishihara spoke at the opening of the symposium, which was held in the municipal government building in Shinjuku and was sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan government and Metropolitan police.