In the area around Okubo Park in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, women soliciting for prostitution remain a persistent issue. Between January and June this year, police cited 75 women under suspicion of violating anti-prostitution laws — more than double the 35 from the same period last year. The main motivation for nearly 40% of these women was reportedly to pay off debts to hosts, though support groups suggest that 80-90% may be doing so for hosts, due to reluctance to admit this openly.
On a Sunday evening in late July, young women began to appear around Okubo Park and the nearby love hotel district as night fell. They could be seen standing or sitting, focused on their smartphones, while periodically interacting with men who passed by. After brief conversations, women were often seen heading to nearby hotels with men, without any visible friendliness.
The practice of these women waiting for clients, known as “tachinbo,” gained prominence in the area during the pandemic and has become a global spectacle on social media. The situation has attracted even international visitors, with foreign clients making up 70%, drawn by information shared on popular Taiwanese social media depicting the area as a spot for paid sexual encounters.
The rise of “tachinbo” can partly be attributed to exploitative hosts who burden women with the obligation of repaying substantial outstanding debts, effectively forcing them into prostitution. In one instance, a woman spent 48 million yen over three years on a host, who coerced her into sex work to settle her debts. In response, Japan has recently amended its adult entertainment laws, strengthening penalties and prohibiting practices that coerce prostitution as a means of repayment.
The Rescue Hub, a Tokyo-based nonprofit supporting women in the sex industry, welcomes this legal change but warns of hosts who might find ways to skirt the law. Their director, Shin Sakamoto, urges the police to actively investigate and enforce these regulations.
As many young women visit Kabukicho out of curiosity during the summer break and risk becoming entrapped in the host culture, Sakamoto advises them to seek help immediately if things go awry, even suggesting contacting support organizations if talking to family or friends seems difficult.
by MagazineKey4532