日本政府近年正積極研議修改現行《賣春防止法》（Prostitution Prevention Act），改革方向出現明顯轉變：從過去以「管理與取締賣方」為核心，逐步轉向針對「需求端」——亦即購買性服務的一方——建立法律責任。這項政策討論被視為日本戰後性產業治理體系可能出現的最大制度性轉折之一。

自1956年制定以來，《賣春防止法》的立法精神主要著重於「防止女性因貧困或剝削而從事賣春」，因此法律實務長期呈現一種特殊結構：直接的性交易行為本身並未全面刑事化，但在公共場所拉客、介紹賣淫或經營相關仲介行為則受到處罰。換言之，法律實際執行上多半針對被視為「供給方」的人員，而對購買性服務的嫖客幾乎沒有刑事責任。這種制度在過去數十年間逐漸受到學界與輿論批評，被認為形成法律責任失衡，也難以真正抑制市場需求。

修法討論升溫的重要背景，與近年東京繁華娛樂區的社會問題密切相關。位於歌舞伎町與新宿一帶，近年出現大量被稱為「立新宿」的街頭性交易現象。媒體與警方調查指出，一部分年輕女性因沉迷牛郎店消費而背負高額債務，進而被迫以性交易方式償還款項。這類由情感操控與債務壓力形成的結構性剝削，引發社會對現行法律是否過度忽視需求方責任的強烈討論。

另一方面，日本的國際形象也成為推動改革的重要因素。部分海外媒體將日本描述為對性產業相對寬鬆、甚至對性旅遊友善的國家，使政府擔憂這種觀感可能影響外交形象與觀光政策。因此，政策思維逐漸轉向「降低需求」的模式，與北歐部分國家採取的「懲罰買方」理念出現某種程度的接軌。

截至2026年2月，日本政府已正式進入制度研議階段。日本法務行政主管機關日本法務省宣布，法務大臣平口洋於2月10日對外表示，將成立專家研究小組，全面評估對嫖客設立刑事處罰的法律可行性與社會影響，並計畫在3月底前召開首次正式會議，蒐集法律學者、社會政策專家與執法單位的意見。

此項政策方向亦獲得首相高市早苗的明確支持。首相已指示法務省針對「買春行為是否應納入規範」進行具體制度檢討，包括如何界定違法行為、證據標準以及避免執法過度侵犯私人領域等問題，顯示政府高層已將此視為重要社會改革議題。

目前討論中的修法重點之一，是將「買方主動勸誘行為」納入處罰範圍，例如主動搭訕、邀約或以金錢條件誘導性交易等行為。一旦修法通過，將意味著日本自戰後制定《賣春防止法》近七十年以來，首次對成人性交易中的「購買者」建立明確刑事責任，從制度上改變長期存在的單向規範結構。

整體而言，這次修法不僅是法律條文的技術性修改，更反映日本社會對性產業、性別權力關係與弱勢保護觀念的重新思考。未來是否真正立法成功，仍取決於社會共識、執法可行性以及如何在打擊剝削與保障個人自由之間取得平衡，但可以確定的是，日本性產業政策正站在一個可能改寫歷史的轉折點上。

The Japanese government is actively pursuing revisions to the Prostitution Prevention Act, with a major policy shift toward imposing penalties on the buyers of sexual services rather than focusing primarily on sellers. This proposed reform is widely seen as one of the most significant potential changes to Japan’s postwar approach to regulating the sex industry.

Since its enactment in 1956, the Prostitution Prevention Act has been rooted in the idea of protecting women from exploitation and poverty-driven prostitution. As a result, the legal framework developed an unusual structure: prostitution itself was not comprehensively criminalized, but activities such as soliciting in public places, brokering transactions, or operating prostitution-related businesses were punishable offenses. In practice, enforcement largely targeted individuals viewed as part of the “supply side,” while buyers of sexual services faced little to no criminal liability. Over the decades, scholars and social critics increasingly argued that this imbalance weakened the law’s effectiveness and failed to address market demand.

Momentum for reform has grown partly due to recent social issues emerging in entertainment districts such as Kabukicho and the broader Shinjuku area in Tokyo. In these neighborhoods, authorities and media reports have documented a rise in so-called street-based prostitution, sometimes referred to as “tachishinjuku.” Investigations suggest that some young women become trapped in cycles of debt after heavy spending at host clubs, where emotional manipulation and high fees lead to financial dependency. In certain cases, these debts allegedly push individuals toward street-level sex work as a means of repayment. The situation has intensified public debate over whether current laws unfairly ignore the responsibility of buyers who sustain demand.

Japan’s international image has also played a role in accelerating policy discussions. Some foreign media outlets have portrayed Japan as relatively permissive toward sex tourism, raising concerns within the government that such perceptions could harm the country’s global reputation and tourism strategy. Consequently, policymakers have begun considering a demand-reduction approach similar to models adopted in parts of Northern Europe, where penalties are directed primarily at clients rather than sex workers.

As of February 2026, the reform process has formally entered a review stage. Japan’s Ministry of Justice announced that Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi declared on February 10 that an expert panel would be established to examine the legal feasibility and societal implications of penalizing clients. The panel is expected to hold its first meeting by the end of March, gathering input from legal scholars, social policy experts, and law enforcement officials.

The initiative has also received clear backing from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has instructed the Ministry of Justice to conduct a concrete review of whether and how purchasing sexual services should be regulated. Discussions include defining punishable conduct, determining evidentiary standards, and ensuring enforcement does not excessively infringe upon private rights, indicating that the issue has become a high-level policy priority.

One of the central proposals currently under consideration is to criminalize proactive solicitation by buyers, such as initiating offers, approaching individuals for paid sexual acts, or attempting to arrange transactions through financial inducement. If the amendment is ultimately passed, it would mark the first time since the law’s creation nearly seventy years ago that Japan imposes explicit criminal penalties on the demand side of adult prostitution.

Overall, the proposed reform represents more than a technical legal amendment. It reflects a broader reassessment within Japanese society regarding the sex industry, gender power dynamics, and the protection of vulnerable individuals. Whether legislation will ultimately succeed remains uncertain, as lawmakers must balance combating exploitation with safeguarding personal freedoms. Nevertheless, it is clear that Japan’s policy toward the sex industry now stands at a potential historical turning point.