Amid the boom in foreign tourism, Tokyo has found a booming industry on its streets: prostitution

Japan is in fashion. Especially among foreigners who plan their vacations. The weakness of the yen and the attractiveness of the destination (extended by the network) have flooded the country with visitors, generating millions of dollars in business and straining coexistence with the local population. There is so much interest in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and the rest of Japan that (for better or for worse) the country is even weathering the crunch the Chinese market is suffering from an increase in tourists from the rest of Asia, Europe and the Americas.

This tourist boom is felt not only in the hotel, but also on the slopes of Fuji D Izakayas. Its rise is also affecting a controversial business: the sex industry.

Something is changing in Japan. Justin McCurry is a veteran reporter who often writes about Japan for outlets Christian Science Monitor is guardian. On Tuesday he published a chronicle in the next newspaper in which he warned about a phenomenon that has already sparked an interesting (and thorny) debate in the country: how to legalize prostitution. Japan has laws that address this issue, but the reference standard dates back to the 1950s and all indications are that, amid a boom in foreign tourism, Japanese prostitution is reinventing itself.

This is especially true in the night districts of Tokyo.

Guillermo Perez (Unspash).

Walking through the ‘Red Light District’. Like other capitals on the planet, Tokyo has its own ‘red light district’: Kabukicho, a district famous for its nightlife, bars, karaoke bars, clubs and accommodation. Even if its name doesn’t mean anything to you, you’ve probably seen photos of its streets full of neon lights and signs. As McCurry points out, something else can also be seen in the “city that never sleeps”: women (sometimes very young) offering sex for a few thousand yen.

And there are clues that indicate they’re getting easier to find. Last year the EFE agency explained that before the epidemic, three or four women could be seen looking for clients in a nearby park. After the health crisis, their numbers increase to dozens (between 30 or 40) and the activity expands to nearby areas. The local press mainly talks about Okubo Park and the ‘Love Hotel’ neighborhood in the Shinjuku district. How many young women work on the streets of Kabukicho? It’s hard to know. Last year, the Metropolitan Police arrested 112 people.

Is it something new? yes no more As McCurry recalls, the sex trade is not new in Tokyo. Kabukicho has theme bars, cabarets where clients and dancers drink together, sensual baths (soap land) and Pink SalonA place where oral sex is performed. There is even a label for art: FujokuWhich works with workers moved into left chiaroscuro by law.

What’s new isn’t that these places work. Interestingly, the phenomenon is similar to that of McCurry and the media Japan Today, Efe o Mainichi This is another: the proliferation of sex workers who offer their services directly on the streets or in parks. Part of what they are known as will see (street prostitution) and creates controversy not only because of its numbers and activity, but also because of the visibility it gains on networks outside of Japan.

Is it a problem? Connect to one of the most sensitive points of the event. To what extent is this change in the Japanese sex industry related to the rise of foreign tourism? A year ago AFP published a report warning that it was becoming increasingly easy for foreigners (Koreans, Chinese, Americans or Europeans) to watch videos of people working at Okubo.

The company even spoke to one of Okubo’s daughters, who admitted that half of her clients are from outside Japan. “Since they can’t communicate in Japanese, they write ‘How much is this?’ on their cell phones with a translator,” he says.

They watch videos on platforms like TikTok or Bilibili, approach women and then go to ‘love hotels’. Rates range from 15,000 to 30,000 yen per hour, although they are highly variable and depend on the agreed service. Recently, a young woman explained the matter Japan Today who earns 10 million yen (56,000 euros) a year. Some blogs talk about cases of fraud and theft from clients, especially foreigners who have fewer resources (or more reluctance) to go to the police.

From the road to the law. To understand the Japanese sex industry, you must first know its laws. More specifically, the Prevention of Prostitution Act of 1956, which established a series of red lines. Essentially, and as Human Rights Watch (HRW) explains, “it authorizes the recruitment of clients for the sale of sexual services.” The rule mentions both the client and the prostitute, but when the push comes to shove, the latter is responsible. They risk fines and half a year in prison.

The great debate. Given the changes the sector is experiencing and the threat that Japan will be considered a destination for sex tourists, the country has begun debating whether the law should be updated. And how to do in that case. This is not an easy matter and requires caution.

Such people believe that the regulations should include penalties for clients, who would thus stop feeling impunity when hiring prostitutes. Other voices warn that toughening the law will further harm women, condemning them to hide and prevent them from reporting assaults if they are.

Picture | Manuel Velasquez (Unsplash) and Guillermo Perez (Unsplash)

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