Japan’s booming sex tourism is fueling public outrage and reigniting debate over the country’s multi-billion-dollar vice industry and its legal framework.
Foreign Sex Tourists Put Japan’s Sex Industry Under New Scrutiny
Japan’s sprawling sex industry is facing renewed scrutiny as a surge in foreign sex tourists fuels public outrage and prompts fresh calls for reform, according to The Economist. The industry, estimated to generate between ¥2 trillion and ¥5 trillion annually, has become the focus of a growing national debate.
The report highlights workers like Mai, a single mother who left hospital work during the COVID-19 pandemic for higher-paying jobs in the sex trade. She now earns about ¥30,000 for a two-hour appointment as a “delivery health” worker.
Public attention has shifted to visible street prostitution, particularly after reports of foreign visitors seeking out sex workers in Tokyo. While some campaigners support tougher laws targeting buyers, others argue for legalisation or decriminalisation to improve working conditions.
According to The Economist, critics say Japan’s debate remains focused on public visibility rather than broader reforms for the country’s much larger indoor sex industry or the welfare of women working within it.
NEWS NOW:
