The sex industry in Japan has been radically changed by the advent of social media. As in neighborhoods like Kabukicho, the promise of awareness and visibility has turned the neighborhood into a destination for sex tourism. The Rescue Hub, a shelter established by a non-profit organization, provides a vital refuge for women seeking help from the challenges posed by this burgeoning market.
Over the past few years, videos uploaded to social media, particularly TikTok and to a lesser extent Bilibili, the Chinese version of TikTok, have gone viral. Most of these clips, filmed without the sex worker’s consent, accurately depict the dangerous world of sex work in Japan. They’ve captured hundreds of thousands of views. This change in the perception of the industry has attracted hundreds of new foreign clients. Today, almost 50% of our customers are from countries like South Korea, China, Taiwan, North America and Europe.
In Kabukicho, the price for sex work is all over the spectrum. In terms of cost, you can expect rates to average between 15,000 and 30,000 yen, about US$105-$210. At the same time, women in the sector experience heightened economic pressures to undercut one another. As Azu, a local sex worker, noted, “In the best-case scenario, I can charge a client 20,000 yen per hour with a condom, sometimes a little more.”
With economic hardships driving many women into sex work, the death shouldn’t come as a shock. Ria, another worker in the area, explained that “the cost of living and the decline in purchasing power” are compelling more women to enter the trade. Many of these women are encouraged since they discover that foreign customers are more willing to pay for services rendered. “Foreigners tend not to negotiate the price and will usually give us more,” Ria added.
Regardless of the financial allure that comes with filling the needs of these foreign clientele, these women’s safety is undeniably at risk. Ria emphasized that it has become “safer to choose foreign customers rather than Japanese ones,” as there is a lower risk of encountering undercover police officers among this demographic.
The legal environment around sex work in Japan adds another layer of complexity. Though only “penetrative” sexual services are illegal, the women usually pay the penalty or serve in prison while clients remain uncharged. Sakamoto, a fervent advocate for the rights of sex workers, explains that the imposition of legal consequences against customers can go a long way. This strategy would greatly minimize demand from domestic and international customers. He further emphasized the importance of awareness campaigns to inform the public about the issues these women deal with. “The authorities should have awareness campaigns in several languages in airports, hotels and tourist areas,” he suggested.
Tokyo police have increased presence and patrols dramatically since December. Right now, they are responding to increasing public pressure over safety and drug trafficking in the city. Despite these efforts, many women still don’t feel safe beyond the security of a space like the Rescue Hub.
Japanese women engaged in sex work contend with socioeconomic factors while weighed down by safety concerns. This combination makes for a particularly precarious situation for them. It’s social media—specifically, Instagram—that’s influencing visitor perceptions and drawing millions of new travelers to these popular destinations. Advocates are calling for a multi-faceted strategy to address the complexity of the sex tourism issue.
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