A law penalizing the planning of a range of crimes took effect on Tuesday, with the government insisting it will help thwart terrorism despite public concerns that enhanced police powers could suppress civil liberties.
Under the law, which the ruling parties rammed through the Diet last month, terrorist groups or other criminal organizations can be punished for planning and preparing to commit 277 crimes. It brings a major change to the criminal justice system, which had basically applied penalties only when crimes had actually been committed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government framed the law as essential for tackling terrorism in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and necessary to ratify a U.N. treaty on international organized crime. Japan is the only country among the Group of Seven countries that has yet to ratify the convention despite signing it in 2000.