Crime of property damage

This crime involves physically damaging the property of others, as well as impairing the original utility of that property (Article 261 of the Penal Code). The property of this crime includes not only other people's property and animals (for animals, it is called "injury"), but also real estate such as land, but in relation to Articles 258 (Destruction of Public Documents, etc.), 259 (Destruction of Private Documents, etc.), and 260 (Damage to Buildings and Death or Injury of the Same) of the Penal Code, public documents, private documents (both of which include electromagnetic records) and buildings are excluded. From the viewpoint of the utility loss theory, the prevailing view and precedents interpret "damage" as impairing the original utility of the thing. From this viewpoint, acts such as urinating into a sukiyaki pot or sake bottle used for guests, releasing a large number of carp that are being raised in a fish pond, and sticking a large number of flyers on the glass windows, doors, bookshelves, etc. of a company during a labor dispute, which significantly damages the aesthetics of the company, may also be considered as this crime. Also, since land is not a "structure," acts such as digging up leveled residential land to make farmland also constitute this crime.

[Tetsuro Nawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

他人の器物を物理的に損壊するほか、その物の本来的効用を害する罪（刑法261条）。本罪の器物には、他人の物、動物（動物については「傷害」という）はもとより、土地などの不動産も含まれるが、刑法第258条（公用文書等毀棄罪）、第259条（私用文書等毀棄罪）、第260条（建造物損壊および同致死傷罪）との関係で、公用文書・私用文書（いずれも電磁的記録を含む）、建造物は除かれる。通説・判例は、効用喪失説の立場から、「損壊」とは物の本来の効用を害することと解している。このような立場からは、来客用に使用するすき焼鍋(なべ)や徳利(とっくり)に放尿する行為、養魚池に飼養中の鯉(こい)を大量に流出させる行為のほか、労働争議に際して会社のガラス窓、ドア、書棚などに大量のビラを貼って著しく美観を損なう場合も本罪にあたりうる。また、土地は「建造物」ではないから、整地された宅地を畑地用に掘り起こす行為なども、本罪にあたる。

［名和鐵郎］

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