The discussion notes that perceptions and realities regarding crime often differ. The leading works in Anglo- American criminology have focused on this asymmetry. Although Japanese scholars have conducted sporadic studies on the fear of crime, this area of research has not yet reached a mature stage. The public perception of Japan as a safe and secure country might explain this lack of research. Currently, most people in Japan do not think of crime in their communities. However, the mass media has focused on topical incidents of crime as representations of change in community order. The media coverage of a 1992 murder in Tokyo demonstrates how complex mechanisms inside and outside a community combine many factors to amplify fear of crime. These mechanisms should be explored to advance the research on fear of crime in Japan. Notes and 19 references (Author abstract modified)