There have been many shocking shooting incidents in the history of crime in Japan. However, there are almost no empirical studies of shootings in Japan. In this study, we collected detailed information on 833 shootings, occurring from 1989 to 2016, and conducted multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. We extracted two dimensions: relatedness to organized crime group, and object of the shooting (“person” versus “object”). Using these dimensions, we classified shootings in Japan into three types: gang-related high person shooting, gang-related high object shooting, and gang-related low person shooting. We found that the characteristics of the crime and the degree of human damage differed among these three types. The results of this study will increase our understanding of shooting incidents in Japan and improve our ability to predict future shootings. This knowledge will contribute to measures to prevent shootings.
