Adults in Tokyo who engage in sex with minors under 18 will soon face punishments of up to two years in jail or a fine of up to 1 million yen ($9,800).
Since 1997 the metropolitan government has had a regulation that punishes customers of teenage prostitutes. The new regulation will punish adults engaging in sexual acts with anyone under 18 regardless of whether money changes hands, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Monday.
The Tokyo government has gradually strengthened its restrictions on teenage sex. The new regulation comes in response to increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases and abortions among teenage girls.
While prefectures surrounding Tokyo had already banned sex with those under 18, Tokyo had resisted taking a tough stand until now. Now only Nagano prefecture has no law in place banning sex with teenagers.
The metropolitan assembly will consider legislation to revise the current regulations in February, with the aim of having the new rules take effect in April.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
