Japan proposes legal overhaul to criminalise buyers of sexual services
Legal scholars have urged Japan to amend its prostitution law so that customers, not just sellers, can be prosecuted.
On September 17, a group of legal experts submitted a report calling for a overhaul of Japan's 1956 anti-prostitution law to include penalties for sex buyers. Their recommendations would make public and online solicitation by clients punishable, mirroring the Nordic approach used in Sweden, Norway and France. The panel stopped short of decriminalising the sale of sex or redefining prostitution beyond vaginal intercourse, but criticised one outlet asymmetry that only penalises sellers.
Survivors from the advocacy group Toka, including Risa and Nao, warned that punishing workers hampers their ability to report violence. The justice ministry is expected to incorporate these suggestions into new legislation, signalling a major policy shift.
Why it matters
The change could curb exploitation of sex workers and bring Japan in line with global buyer-penalty standards.
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