According to data ascertained by diplomatic establishments abroad through their Japanese citizen protection work, there were 7,109 offenses committed against Japanese nationals overseas in 2002 (down 10.6% from the previous year), involving 8,219 Japanese nationals as victims (down 8.1% from the previous year) (Source: Data by Consular and Migration Affairs Department, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
   Fig. 1-5-3-1 shows the percent distribution of offenses committed against Japanese nationals overseas in 2002, by type of offense. The majority of the offenses were larceny, accounting for 76.5% (5,439 cases) of the total number, followed by robbery (1,023 cases, 14.4%) and fraud (375 cases, 5.3%).
  By region, the largest number of offenses was committed in Europe (2,955 cases, 41.6%), followed by Asia (2,258 cases, 31.8%), and North America (927 cases, 13.0%). The 3 most common offenses in these 3 regions were as follows: in Europe, the most common was larceny at 83.6% (2,471 cases), followed by robbery at 13.9% (411 cases), and fraud at 1.5% (43 cases); in Asia, the most common was larceny at 67.7% (1,528 cases), followed by robbery at 13.3% (300 cases) and fraud at 12.3% (278 cases); in North America, the most common was larceny at 87.8% (814 cases), followed by robbery at 6.1% (57 cases) and fraud at 1.7% (16 cases).
  Meanwhile, the number of Japanese nationals killed due to crimes has hovered within the 10-30 range since 1992 (using the fiscal year until fiscal 1994 and the calendar year thereafter), and 28 were killed in 2002. On the other hand, the number of persons injured due to crimes such as bodily injury, assault, and robbery etc. was 325 in 2002, increasing by about 3.3 times from the 98 persons in 1993.

Fig. 1-5-3-1 Percent distribution of offenses committed against Japanese nationals overseas by type of offense (2002)