I doubt that Japan is a safe country. I mean there are ton of freaks there and they can kidnap you or worse. Also the police is kinda useless there, but I'd say Japan is still safer than US
Emma actually feels like a real child and I should know, my stepmother ran a daycare and I lived there for 5 years. The way Emma talked and acted was so much like a real child that it makes me think the author might have a child.