> ... they could find this in pretty much any Spanish city
That's a horseload of bullcrap. For a start there are plenty of pickpockets in many spanish cities (not just Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia). Then there are people visiting houses: don't tell me it doesn't happen for I had my house visited by thieves the one time I forgot to put the alarm on (because I had to run to the ER for my daughter was between life and death).
I happen to know both Spain and Japan very well (I've got family in Japan): there's not anywhere near the level of safety you have in Tokyo in spanish cities.
Not even close.
It's funny how these articles always conveniently skip over the most important point: you first have to fill your city with Japanese people.
I don't think this is as absurd as it sounds. Come to the US Midwest. "Wisconsin nice" is a stereotype, and makes us seem a little bit like hicks, but it's real. People really are polite to one another. A friend from one of the coasts observed after a long trip through rural areas by bike: "Nobody tried to kill me."
Sometimes our infrastructure and zoning are awkward, and we're too reliant on cars, but I still think there's hope.
But nobody in Japan is actually living.
They are all in a rush to get home or work or school.
I feel sorry how little time they actually get to do things they want to do on their own schedule.
Japanese live for the afterlife, but know there isn't one, so it's coming apart.