Japan designates 382 top secrets by 2014 under new law

The Japanese government designated 382 cases as top secrets subject to protection under the new secrecy law as of the end of December, local media reported Friday.

According to the Cabinet Secretariat, most of the secrets are regarding defense and diplomacy. Of the total, the Defense Ministry has listed 247 cases as"specially designated secrets," while the Cabinet Secretariat filed the second-highest number at 49, mostly on intelligence operations.

The Foreign Ministry ranked third, designating about 35 cases, said Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

Under the law, a total of 19 ministries and agencies can designate as state secrets information deemed to be sensitive in the areas of defense, diplomacy, counterterrorism and counterespionage, but nine of them did not do so by the end of December.

Japan's largely unpopular and highly controversial special secrecy law came into effect on Dec. 10, 2014, one year later after it cleared parliament in December 2013.

According to the law, public servants or others with access to state secrets could be jailed for up to 10 years for leaking them. Journalists and others in the private sector convicted of encouraging such leaks could get up to five years' jail term if they use"grossly inappropriate"means to solicit information.

Critics have argued that the definition of such"specially designated secrets"is vague, and thus the government may withhold information at its own discretion. They also believed that the legislation undermines the public's right to know, as well as media's reporting right. Endi