A bill to protect people who appear in pornographic videos against their will passed the Lower House on Friday amid growing concerns over an increase in the number of young victims following the lowering of the legal age of adulthood to 18 from 20 in April.
The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito as well as four opposition parties compiled the bill out of concern that 18- and 19-year olds, who until April required parental consent to sign contracts, are no longer be able to rescind such deals — a right afforded to minors.
The bill requires producers to explain to actors at the time the contract is signed that they will appear in a pornographic film and that the actors may be identified.