Japan’s growing reputation as a sex tourism destination has drawn significant international attention, particularly regarding street prostitution in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district.
Recent media coverage has exposed how young women are coerced into the sex industry through exploitative host clubs. These revelations have provoked heated online discussions, with critics questioning whether government responses are genuinely aimed at protecting vulnerable women or simply preserving Japan’s global image.
A report by SCMP’s This Week in Asia highlighted the plight of Rua*, a 19-year-old sex worker servicing up to 10 clients daily, half of whom are foreign tourists.
In the interview, Rua revealed that to fund her frequent visits to her favourite host at a local club, she has turned to papa katsu—seeking sugar daddies to cover her expenses. She also described charging 15,000 to 30,000 yen (US$100–US$200) for an hour in a love hotel.
“I needed to pay off my debts and wanted to buy nice things, like clothes,” said Rua.
Like many others, Rua’s descent into prostitution was driven by overwhelming debts owed to host clubs, where male hosts manipulate female patrons into excessive spending and mounting expenses.
One online commenter remarked, “Japan wouldn’t care about these women if it wasn’t attracting international attention. Okubo Park is a new hotspot, but similar issues have existed for decades.”
How social media fuels exploitation in Japan’s host club culture
Host clubs, once a niche part of Japanese nightlife, have become more visible thanks to social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, especially during the pandemic when in-person activities were restricted. This increased visibility has made their exploitative practices more insidious, enabling hosts to target and manipulate financially or emotionally vulnerable women.
Mikami Rui, a 28-year-old host with a decade of experience, admitted in a CNN report that platforms like Instagram have allowed hosts to build fanbases and attract new customers.
“Awareness is spreading in Japan,” he said, acknowledging he had previously persuaded women to spend beyond their means but claimed he now limits his clients to what they can afford.
Advocates argue that social media has normalised host clubs while also amplifying their harmful practices. Hosts often flirt with potential customers online, enticing them to visit clubs. Once there, women are pressured into lavish spending, leading to insurmountable debt.
For some, the manipulation begins well before they step inside a club. Yu*, a young woman drawn in by a host’s YouTube videos, initially believed she was developing a personal relationship.
After meeting him in person, he showered her with attention, promising trips to Disneyland and Okinawa. This illusion of romance, according to national assembly member Ayaka Shiomura, often leads victims—some as young as 18—to believe the hosts are their boyfriends.
For Yu, this belief came at a high cost. When her debts became unmanageable, her host pressured her to work abroad as a prostitute, promising she could earn up to 8 million yen (around S$71,560) per month.
Desperate and out of options, Yu entered the sex trade, working in Japan and later in Macao and Hong Kong under gruelling conditions. She described working over 10-hour shifts, participating in hourly shows, and feeling emotionally and physically shattered.
“When my body was exhausted or I felt weak, I often thought it would be easier to die,” she said. Haunted by shame and anger, she kept her suffering hidden from friends and family.
“It’s a romance scam, basically,” said Shiomura. “Many women still view the hosts as their boyfriends and want to support them. It shows just how deeply the psychological manipulation runs.”
A systemic issue
Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law criminalises women involved in sex work but does little to hold clients or enablers accountable. Critics argue this outdated legal framework fails to address modern exploitation tactics, particularly those driven by social media and the host club industry.
Public reactions online reveal widespread scepticism about the government’s motivations. Many commenters argue that Japan’s urgency to act is driven by international embarrassment rather than genuine concern for the women affected.
“Japan’s sex industry has long been off-limits to foreigners,” one commenter noted. “It’s only when foreign media starts reporting on it that politicians react. This isn’t about protecting women—it’s about saving face.”
A path forward?
Advocates like Shiomura emphasise that tackling the root causes of exploitation requires more than legal reforms. Broader societal changes, including addressing income inequality and entrenched gender norms, are essential to prevent women from falling into the cycle of host club debt and coercion.
Some progress has been made, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission’s recent closure of LOVE, a Kabukicho host club accused of driving a customer into debt. However, systemic changes are needed to ensure such abuses do not recur.
Activists continue to support victims and push for tighter regulations while calling for public awareness campaigns to combat the allure of host culture.
Japan’s struggle with Kabukicho’s sex industry reflects a deeper societal challenge of balancing tradition with modern realities.
As international scrutiny mounts, the question remains whether Japan can implement reforms that address exploitation at its core—or if superficial measures will prevail.
[*Name changed to protect the interviewees’ identity.]
