Japan is eyeing revising the anti-prostitution law to potentially include buyers who solicit sex for money as violators, closing a widely criticized loophole wherein only sellers are deemed to be in violation.

During a regular news conference on Tuesday, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said the ministry would establish an expert panel to discuss possible revisions within the current fiscal year, which ends in March.

¡°In recent years, acts such as soliciting sex on the streets have been declared a social issue, with growing demand to take appropriate measures,¡± said Hiraguchi.