Japan weighs plan to punish sex buyers, but will it be enough?
Experts warn the sex industry will find ways to circumvent new rules and the problem needs to be tackled from various angles simultaneously
Experts warn, however, that the sex trade – often described as “the world’s oldest profession” – will inevitably adapt to new restrictions, making a more holistic approach essential.
Ogata told the Asahi newspaper that Japan’s 1956 anti-prostitution law was originally aimed at curbing the public nuisance caused by women soliciting on the streets, which was seen as damaging to social morals.
While the law targeted those who profited from prostitution, critics have argued it ignored the men sustaining the trade as clients.
“There is a need for a fundamental discussion about what the law intends to protect,” Ogata said, noting that the issue extends beyond the act of selling sex.