When we think of Japan, most of us have positive images about what it represents. It has a long history of rich traditions, culture, and food, such as tea ceremonies, kimonos, temples, calligraphy, sushi, ramen, etc. In this modern age, it is not only famous for manga, anime, and J-pop, its productions of reliable automobiles, leading electronics, and innovative robotics, also draw attention on the world stage.
The country is admired for its cleanliness, safety, and the courtesy of its people. However, behind the fame and well-received reputation, Japan also suffers from the issue of human trafficking. We will discuss the current situation, how and why it happens, and public responses in regards to the reality of sex trafficking in Japan.
Victim Demographics and Sources
According to the 2022 UNDOC report, the majority of the victims in Japan are women, girls, and children. As a victim destination and transit country, women from Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and more, are being trafficked into Japan.
Japanese nationals get trafficked within the country too. Japan is also a source country for sex trafficking victims. Runaway teens and the ones from impoverished households are most of the cases for being sexually exploited.
Common Trafficking Methods
Traffickers commonly use fraudulent marriages, exploit migrant workers via debt bondage, confiscation of passports, threats, blackmail, arbitrary fines, or psychological coercion to trap victims in prostitution or adult entertainment venues.
Current Situation
Since the 1990s, runaway girls post themselves on the web, seeking for god (someone who can offer them food and shelter). They are called kamidai shojo, which means the girls of the god era. These girls become potential targets of the traffickers for sexual exploitation.
Vulnerable individuals are often lured into “compensated dating” (enjo-kosai) and “JK business” (schoolgirl services), which may lead to sexual exploitation. Minors are being involved in providing companionship or sexual services. In return, they receive money or gifts as compensation. This is the gateway to exploit high school girls. In 2022, Japanese police identified 119 JK businesses mainly in Tokyo and Osaka.
There are also increasing cases of women paying their mounting bills through sex work in the host club. Hosts are male staff entertaining female clients through serving drinks, engaging in conversations, and providing flirtatious companionship. The drinks are often expensive, and the host club charges high hourly rates for spending time with the hosts. Many women borrow money directly from the clubs to keep up with expenses. When they are unable to repay these debts, some are pressured into providing sexual services as a form of repayment. Although host clubs are not considered illegal in Japan, it has high potential leading to organized crime (yakuza) and human trafficking.
In the next article, we will explore why Japan is a hotspot for sexual exploitation and how various public sectors respond to the trafficking issues.