In recent years, Tokyo has seen significant economic growth, and it remains one of the most livable cities in the world. However, it is also emerging as a growing hub for sex tourism, with foreign men increasingly seeking women on the streets.
Despite this, the city in question isn’t what you might initially think. Alongside Bangkok in Thailand, Tokyo is becoming a hotbed for sex tourism, driven by factors like the weakening of the Japanese Yen and a boom in inbound tourism.
The Star reported that Yoshihide Tanaka, secretary general of the Liaison Council Protecting Youths (Seiboren), stated, “Japan has become a poor country.” He went on to describe how a park near his organization has become synonymous with the city’s sex trade, noticing an increase in foreigners visiting the park since the easing of pandemic-era travel restrictions. “Now we are seeing a lot more foreign men,” he said. “They come from many countries. They are white, Asian, black – but the majority are Chinese,” he added.
This influx has been accompanied by a troubling rise in young women, including teenagers and women in their early twenties, entering the sex industry as a means of survival, according to Tanaka.
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Kazunori Yamanoi, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, voiced concerns about the situation, saying, “The reality is that Japan has become a country where foreign men can obtain young women and essentially buy sexual services.” He continued, “This is no longer just a domestic issue. It’s a very serious problem regarding how Japanese women are perceived in the international community,” as reported by Japan Times.
In response, the police have ramped up efforts to crack down on such activities. Earlier this week, Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested five individuals on suspicion of violating Japan’s Employment Security Act. They were allegedly running a scheme to recruit women through social media to work in the sex industry, with contracts signed with about 350 shops across the country.
The financial strain experienced by women during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a significant factor driving them into the sex trade, with many seeking to pay off debts or spend money at host clubs.
Japan Times previously reported that host clubs, where men interact with women over food and drinks, have created a cycle of debt for women through exploitative schemes. These clubs have been linked to an increase in sex work, including illegal operations abroad and street solicitation.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), around 43% of women arrested while working on the street in 2023 said they turned to sex work to pay off host club debts or support underground male idols. Approximately 80% of those arrested were in their 20s, with three of them being 19 or younger. The loopholes in existing laws and their poor enforcement have left many women vulnerable to physical violence and sexually transmitted diseases.
In contrast, countries like The Netherlands have legalized prostitution, but the industry is heavily regulated to ensure the protection of women, including increased efforts to combat human trafficking. Despite this, sex trafficking continues to be a pressing issue in the country.
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