不敬罪(ふけいざい)

ふけいざい
noun
lese-majeste; crime of disrespect (toward the sovereign)
formallegallaw
1. lese-majeste; crime of disrespect toward the sovereign or royal family
A criminal offense consisting of showing disrespect or insult toward a monarch, emperor, or head of state. In Japan, this law existed under the Meiji Constitution but was abolished after World War II. Still enforced in some countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.
戦前(せんぜん)の日本(にほん)には不敬罪(ふけいざい)があった。
Prewar Japan had a lese-majeste law.
タイでは不敬罪(ふけいざい)で逮捕(たいほ)されるケースが今(いま)でもある。
In Thailand, there are still cases of people being arrested for lese-majeste.
不敬罪(ふけいざい)は表現(ひょうげん)の自由(じゆう)を制限(せいげん)するものだとして、国際的(こくさいてき)に批判(ひはん)されることが多(おお)い。
Lese-majeste laws are frequently criticized internationally as restrictions on freedom of expression.

Composed of 不敬(ふけい) (disrespect, irreverence) and 罪(ざい) (crime, offense). A legal and historical term that appears in discussions of constitutional history, comparative law, and international news.

In Japan, 不敬罪(ふけいざい) was codified in the 旧刑法(きゅうけいほう) (old criminal code) under the Meiji government and was used to prosecute those who insulted the emperor, the imperial family, or imperial symbols. It was abolished in 1947 as part of the postwar democratic reforms. The concept remains relevant in international news coverage, particularly regarding Thailand, where Article 112 of the criminal code carries severe penalties for perceived insults to the monarchy.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 不敬(ふけい): disrespect — the broader concept of showing irreverence, without the legal connotation
  • 名誉毀損(めいよきそん): defamation — a related but distinct legal concept that applies to private individuals, not specifically to royalty

Related Words

Compare: 名誉毀損(めいよきそん) (defamation)
general
Added 2026.4.29 23:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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