"This Country Considers Punishing Buyers to Shed 'Sex Tourism Destination' Stigma"

Anti-Prostitution Act Enacted in 1956 “Targets Only Women”
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi: “Regulations Will Be Reviewed to Reflect Social Changes”

The Japanese government is reviewing amendments to relevant laws to strengthen regulations on prostitution between consenting adults. This move comes amid growing concerns that Japan is increasingly being perceived as a "sex tourism destination" among foreign tourists, prompting calls for a government-level response.

Yonhap News Agency reported on the 30th, citing Asahi Shimbun and others, that the Japanese government plans to establish an expert panel as early as next month to discuss possible revisions to the Anti-Prostitution Act. The government is reportedly considering comprehensive measures, including introducing penalties for buyers of sexual services, increasing the severity of punishments, and blocking involvement by criminal organizations.

The current Anti-Prostitution Act, enacted in 1956, does not penalize the act of prostitution itself but only punishes those who broker prostitution or operate such establishments. Even those who solicit prostitution or engage in customer service face relatively light penalties, and there are currently no provisions to punish buyers in cases of prostitution between adults.

Kabukicho, the representative entertainment district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This legal framework has been criticized for creating a distorted structure in which only women are punished. In particular, public calls to strengthen regulations on prostitution surged after it was revealed in November 2023 that a minor from Thailand was forced to provide sexual services at a massage parlor in Tokyo.

In November 2024, Sankei Shimbun reported that while the reality of foreign men engaging in "sex tours" in Tokyo's Kabukicho district had previously been covered by some local media, such practices are now spreading overseas. The report also noted that "sex tourism" targeting foreigners is being promoted and circulated through social networking services (SNS).

Previously, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested 140 women for street prostitution near Okubo Park between January 2023 and December 19, 2023. This figure represents an approximately 2.7-fold increase compared to 2022. Among those arrested, 106 were in their 20s, and there were reports of a 17-year-old as well.

Fumika Shiomura, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, stated in the National Diet, "International media now perceive Japan as a 'new sex tourism destination.' The current structure, in which foreign men are not punished while only women who are compelled to sell sex are targeted, undermines women's dignity and erodes international trust."

In response, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "We will review prostitution regulations to better reflect changes in the social environment," adding, "We must also prevent criminal organizations from using prostitution as a source of funding."