Japan's Ministry of Justice has drafted a report proposing criminal penalties for people who purchase sex [1].
The move seeks to address long-standing criticism that current laws unfairly target those selling sex while leaving buyers untouched. By penalizing the demand side, the government aims to curb street prostitution and align national policy with international models that hold buyers accountable [3].
The proposal comes under the direction of Prime Minister Sanae Takahashi [1]. The draft report, presented on the 24th [1], suggests expanding the existing anti-prostitution law to include those who solicit or purchase sex [1, 2].
Currently, the law primarily punishes the sellers. The shift toward a "buyer-pays" penalty system follows discussions held by an expert panel, which met May 29, 2024, to deliberate on the necessity of these revisions [2].
Officials said the current legal framework is insufficient to deter the practice of prostitution. The proposed changes would make the act of soliciting sex a criminal offense, shifting the legal burden away from the vulnerable parties who provide the services [3].
The Ministry of Justice developed the report with input from the expert panel to ensure the legal language effectively targets the solicitation process [1]. This legislative shift represents a significant change in how the Japanese state handles the commercial sex trade, moving from a focus on the provider to the consumer.
“Japan's Ministry of Justice has drafted a report proposing criminal penalties for people who purchase sex.”
This policy shift indicates a move toward the 'Nordic Model' of prostitution, which decriminalizes or reduces penalties for sex workers while criminalizing the buyers. By targeting demand, Japan is attempting to reduce the overall market for commercial sex and address human rights concerns regarding the exploitation of sellers who have historically borne the brunt of legal consequences.
