A panel of the House of Councilors approved Thursday a bill to combat stalking, paving the way for its enactment later this week.
The Upper House's Committee on Local Administration and Police Affairs adopted the bill, which incorporates administrative measures, such as warnings and orders to desist, as well as specifying penalties.
The bill is expected to be approved at the Upper House's plenary session on Wednesday and sent to the House of Representatives on Thursday for enactment. It will take effect six months after clearing the Diet.
The three ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- agreed on the bill on May 9, and opposition parties also decided to back the bill on condition that it be reviewed in five years.
Stalking is defined in the bill as repeated acts of harassment of a specific person, motivated by an emotional attachment or a grudge borne because of unrequited love.
Individuals against whom a stalking complaint has been filed could face a prison term of up to six months and a fine of up to 500,000 yen, according to the bill.
Victims can also request prefectural police heads and police station chiefs to issue warnings to stalkers.
The public safety commission in each prefecture, after hearing the stalker's defense, will be able to issue desist orders to those who violate police warnings. Those who violate the orders could receive a jail term of up to one year and be fined up to 1 million yen.
The bill also stipulates that it should be used solely for the purpose of halting the activities of stalkers.
Motions to pass the previously stalled stalking bill have rapidly gained momentum, spurred by the recent rise in stalking-related murders and other crimes across Japan.