A bustling entertainment district in Minami, Osaka, with large numbers of inbound visitors passing through — Chuo Ward, Osaka City.
Authorities raided a sex-related business in Osaka on suspicion of employing Japanese women as prostitutes for inbound tourists and Chinese residents in Japan. More than a dozen women are believed to have worked there.
Similar raids have occurred in Tokyo including its Kabukicho entertainment district, where the number of foreign visitors seeking paid sex has been rising. Experts say gaps in Japanese law may be contributing to the growth of prostitution targeting foreigners.
The Osaka establishment advertised itself on a recruitment site as "the largest delivery health service for Chinese clients in Kansai." In Japan, "delivery health" refers to escort services that provide sexual services without involving intercourse, at least officially.
Arrests and Operations
Between September and October, Osaka Prefectural Police arrested the 33-year-old Chinese manager on suspicion of violating the Prostitution Prevention Law and other charges. He has since been formally indicted.
Investigators said the establishment employed more than a dozen Japanese women. On its website, the women were ranked in four tiers, from A to SSS, with the highest tier priced at ¥40,000 JPY (around $260 USD) for a two-hour session. The women waited in a room in a building in Osaka's Minami area before being sent to hotels, clients' homes, or short-term rental accommodations. Word of the business spread through Chinese-language networks.
Police also arrested a 40-year-old unemployed man for introducing women to the business in violation of the Employment Security Act. He recruited women via social media and reportedly received referral fees from the establishment.
Similar Trends in Tokyo
Prostitution targeting inbound tourists has also been reported in Tokyo's Kabukicho district. In February, police arrested the managers of a men's "beauty salon" for offering sexual services to foreign visitors and seized foreign currency from 16 countries, including China, India, and Argentina. Street-based sex workers, known as "tachinbo," remain a problem in the area, with some primarily serving foreign clients.
The situation has drawn international attention. In November 2024, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post ran a story under the headline, "Welcome to Tokyo: Asia's new sex tourism capital?"
In the National Diet, lawmakers condemned the trend, warning that "Japanese women may be more vulnerable to sexual exploitation abroad, and it also raises concerns about Japan's national dignity."
Factors Behind the Trend
Experts cite several factors behind the rise of prostitution targeting foreigners. A weak yen makes services cheaper, and foreign clients may feel less likely to face prosecution. Differences in legal regulations between Japan and other countries likely also play a role.
Under Japan's Prostitution Prevention Act, those selling sexual services can be punished for solicitation, persistently pursuing clients, or arranging prostitution. Meanwhile, clients who purchase sex face no penalties. If a client engages in sexual activity with a minor, they can be prosecuted under an act prohibiting child prostitution and pornography. However, adults selling sex are not subject to regulation.
Weak Yen, Legal Loopholes
Professor Ken Suzuki of Meiji University, an expert on Chinese law, notes that sexual services are illegal in China and that no legal category of sex establishments exists. Both operators and clients there face the risk of prosecution if caught.
In addition, France has also criminalized clients. In 2016, the country passed a law making the purchase of sexual services illegal.
Suzuki warns that the weak yen, along with clients' perception that they face fewer restrictions in Japan than at home, is encouraging more people to seek such services. This could turn Japan into a growing supplier in the global sex industry.
The issue was discussed in November at the Lower House Budget Committee. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed the Minister of Justice to "review how prostitution should be regulated," while Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said authorities would "carry out the necessary review in light of recent social developments."
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Mai Yasuda, The Sankei Shimbun
