However, NPA officials believe the situation in Japan is unique. "The declaration concerns children who are sexually exploited against their will as a result of poverty and so on. We believe children who willingly solicit are not victims (of sexual exploitation)," a spokesman for the NPA's Safety Bureau said.
and furthermore:
"We are fully aware of the argument that underage sex-seeking adults are solely responsible for child prostitution," the spokesman said. "However, in reality, children are no angels. So we have reached the conclusion that online soliciting needs to be regulated just like pimping on the streets. "We hope the new law will make children more sensitive to standards of society."