The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has prepared a bill to ban trade in schoolgirls' used underwear.
The bill seeks to punish violators with fines of up to 500,000 yen. It would be the nation's first local government ordinance to include such provisions.
The bill, part of a revision to the ordinance on the upbringing of youth, also seeks to ban and punish scouts who solicit girls to work in the adult entertainment business.
The metro government will submit the bill to its assembly Wednesday, and expects to enforce the revised ordinance from June if the bill is passed.
It calls for a complete ban on trade in used panties, accepting requests to sell, and introducing buyers to sellers.
It also seeks to punish those who provide space for such trade, including sex shops where girls can sell directly to customers.
There are 28 such "burusera" shops in Tokyo, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
By targeting shops with fines of up to 500,000 yen and individual buyers with fines of up to 300,000 yen, the metro government hopes to end the practice.