Tokyo Woman Freed from Exploitative Sex Work After Arrest, Revealing Persistent Issues
Tokyo- A woman in her 20s, referred to as Yuri (a pseudonym), described her relief at being arrested by Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department, which allowed her to escape a cycle of coercive sex work known as “tachinbo” near Okubo Park in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. Yuri’s story sheds light on the exploitation faced by some women in this practice and the difficulties in breaking free.
Yuri began engaging in sex work two years ago to fund her passion for attending live concerts, initially through “papa-katsu,” a form of compensated dating popularized on social media. Lacking awareness of its illegality, she was drawn in by its prevalence online. A man she met through papa-katsu suggested combining tachinbo—standing on the street to solicit clients—with online recruitment for papa-katsu, proposing they split the earnings. This arrangement led Yuri to work near Okubo Park from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily, servicing five to ten clients per day and earning nearly 3 million yen ($20,000) monthly over a 45-day period without rest.
Initially, the partnership seemed collaborative, but the man’s behavior turned abusive. Yuri reported being subjected to violence and verbal abuse, with remarks like, “You’re a high school graduate with no brains, so this is all you can do.” Her earnings, initially shared, were fully confiscated, leaving her with no personal funds. The man also monitored her activities in person, escalating his control over her.
In October 2023, Yuri was arrested by police while soliciting near Okubo Park. She recalled feeling relief, telling officers, “Thank goodness,” as the arrest freed her from the man’s dominance. Following her arrest, the police referred her to Shinjuku Ward’s social services, where she applied for welfare and received job placement support. She now works in a stable job and values earning money legitimately, stating, “I realized committing crimes for hobbies like concerts was wrong. Using my own earnings feels happiest.”
Since 2022, the Metropolitan Police have connected arrested tachinbo women with municipal support services to help them rebuild their lives. However, only 15% of women detained for tachinbo in 2024 were referred to such programs. A female officer involved in interrogations noted that many women return to sex work due to addictions to host clubs or fan activities, prioritizing these over personal stability. She highlighted a common misconception that tachinbo in Okubo Park is low-risk because “everyone does it,” emphasizing the need to convey the seriousness of engaging in illegal activities.
Japan’s sex work landscape remains complex, with tachinbo persisting in areas like Kabukicho despite police crackdowns. According to a 2023 report by the National Police Agency, arrests for prostitution-related offenses in Tokyo numbered 1,200, a slight increase from the previous year. Social media’s role in normalizing activities like papa-katsu has drawn younger women into exploitative situations, often under coercive figures who profit from their earnings. Support programs, while available, face challenges in reaching those trapped in cycles of abuse and financial dependency, underscoring the need for broader prevention and intervention efforts.
