The government adopted a bill at a Cabinet meeting Friday that will require Internet dating site operators to register with local public security boards.
The National Police Agency estimates that 5,000 dating sites written in Japanese exist on the Internet. The government measure is intended to curb child prostitution and other crimes.
According to the NPA, the status of such Web sites is difficult to grasp because a single operator runs multiple sites and many sites post no contact information.
Under the bill, yakuza running such sites and operators of child-related dating sites will be unable to register. Those operating unregistered sites will be subject to fines or imprisonment.
The bill requires operators to delete messages from children under 18 suggesting prostitution and from adults seeking child prostitutes. Operators failing to do so will be subject to administrative punishment.