The number of recorded stalking cases rose to 21,089 in 2013, hitting an all-time high for the second straight year and topping 20,000 for the first time, the National Police Agency said in a report Thursday.
The total included 43 stalking cases involving police questioning or arresting stalkers over sending emails to victims, a new category covered under a revision made last July to the 2000 anti-stalking law. Police also issued warnings to email senders in 143 cases.
Police nationwide have taken a tougher stance on stalkers after a high school girl was killed by a stalker in Mitaka, west Tokyo, in October.