With the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, millions of corporate employees around the world commenced working remotely from their homes. But as Spa (June 20-27) reports, such employment is by no means limited to people holding white-collar jobs.
To wit, a growing number of foreign females, mostly in Japan on short-term visas, are renting apartments from which they offer short-time sexual services, at the going rate of ¥15,000 for an hour of their time.
It seems that a large number of monied investors from China have, in recent years, purchased units in high-rise condos in Japan, some for investments, others as a means of moving their assets abroad and, more recently, to flee from draconian lockdowns in major Chinese cities. One way for owners to reduce negative cash flow is to rent them out to female transients for use as love nests.
Spa's reporter first makes contact with a Ms. A, who operates a "men's este" out of a 50-square meter high-rise condo unit in the West Shinjuku area. He describes her as an "Asian beauty," apparently in her mid-30s, who offers various courses ranging from ¥10,000 to ¥20,000.
Upon requesting the cheapest service -- a massage that culminates in digital manipulation -- her expression sours.
Spa's reporter next logged onto a password-protected site with various offerings, from which he selected a 20-year-old female from Thailand. Upon confirming his reservation, a pop-up message reminded him to "be sure and prepare the correct change."
The encounter took in a 6-mat room in a "monthly manshon" located five minutes from a rail station at a city in Kanagawa Prefecture.
In a characteristic sleight-of-hand, the Thai woman who opened the door appeared a bit older than the one whose photo was posted on the site. In Japan on a 2-week visa, she told him that her regular work involved cleaning rooms in a Bangkok hotel.
"We can take a shower together and I'll show you how well I can clean men's bodies," she winked invitingly.
Most of the ladies who engage in working at these homes away from home are said to hail from China, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Russia and Brazil.
After the sun goes down, many can be seen trolling street corners close to the buildings where they stay.
"Would you like to have a good time?" a young woman on a street corner cheerily greets our reporter. When he shows interest, she boldly entwines her arm with his and leads him to an nearby residence, a 2K apartment with a "playroom" where the action takes place.
A 25-year old native of Beijing, she tells him she keeps herself in good shape by swimming. Her work begins from around 5 p.m.
A sidebar notes that these so-called underground sex operations can be found all around Japan. Since they're illegal, many have been shut down, but plenty of others have managed to stay in business. One strategy they've adopted has been to locate close to prefectural boundaries, such as around Kamata (Tokyo) and Kawasaki (Kanagawa). "Operating in those areas makes it easier for them to flee from the local police," says a YouTuber who goes by the name Pineapple Ura-ch.
Their operation methods have also changed.
"In addition to soliciting business on the street, more of them make use of dedicated deai-kei (encounter) sites or social networks to attract customers," Pineapple remarks. "More girls are coming here for short-term but profitable stays. And what was previously a trickle has given way to a flood."
© Japan Today
36 Comments
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Thuban
The bible does not approve of this type of ... ahem... "work"
But alas, now that we're progressive, these young human trafficking victims can celebrated as liberated women breaking free of the traditional gender roles of modesty, chastity and marriage.
Are these workers really benefiting society with their work?
Moonraker
True but it also doesn't condemn slavery either so we cannot use it as our oracle. And there is plenty of work that is not "benefitting society," but makes profit, if this is used as your moral justification in addition to the bible. Oh, but then I see you use tradition too. Can you make up your mind?
dagon
As opposed to the above ground sex operations that can be found meters away from police boxes that have the imprimatur of organized crime and the authorities cooperation.
Babe Ruth
I didn't have Moonraker such a biblephile on my bingo card today, but there ya go.
But perhaps he should familiarize himself a little better...
EFD
Granted but those establishments are in set areas such as Kabukicho, and their ladies don't go hustling on street corners. Nor are short timers and their Johns trouncing through residential housing blocks.
Sex work is always going to be part of society. So keep it to set areas like Kabukicho, keep the ladies off the streets, both for their safety and residents', and at known establishments even if said establishments are yak run.
EFD
And I need the bible referenced as a good guide on public policy as much as I need the text of a Trump "speech".
Nice book, not applicable to public policy, especially in Japan.
dagon
Nah, no need to.
If I wanted to familiarize myself with Bronze Age mores i could read the Iliad or the Odyssey.
Not that you would want to structure a modern society around them.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Actually they are: some poor sods actually need this service and you haven't seen the smiles on them afterward!
NCIS Reruns
Japan is in the process of legalizing gambling casinos. It stands to reason that some compulsive gamblers will lose their shirts (along with their assets), but at least they won't be breaking the law. If Japan were to legalize prostitution and collect taxes from such service providers, surely this would contribute, albeit to a small degree, to reducing the government's deficit. Would that be such a bad thing?
opheliajadefeldt
Sex work is legal in Germany and many EU countries too, and so it should be. It is so pathetic that the only people stopping it from being so, are the ones who also use sex workers, or have 'mistresses'. Yes, I am talking about old men politicians, they all have double standards, and in reality are just piteous, little men.
Thuban
The abandonment of morals by the left has gone so far that it's okay for a grown man to exploit a young asian trafficked girl because it ends with the man smiling.
Absolutely no regard for the feelings of the girl being victimized in this "profession" providing "services"
kohakuebisu
It must be grim if you buy/rent an apartment, pay all the fees involved, and end up next door to an unannounced one of these.
I don't have a problem with sex work. Just not in people's faces thank you.
Moonraker
Thanks for your elucidation, Babe Ruth. Now read the rest of the bible or the wikipedia entry and you will see the bible is not quite so unequivocal as that one quote from, an if not peripheral figure, certainly not one of the main characters (Moses or Jesus?). In fact, it is woefully ambiguous for a text which is regarded as authoritative. And now, not content with tradition, a religious text or capitalism to justify morality, Thuban purports that immorality derives from "the left's" lack of empathy. Where do you derive your principles from?
Jacobo
If there is a country in this world without sss (secret sex services) please let me know.
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's up to the authorities to find traffickers of all types. Your biblical values should otherwise have no impact on workers or clients engaging in a consensual practice. You also have no room to complain if you would be happy to see her barefoot and pregnant.
FizzBit
Legal prostitution = increased illegal sex trafficking, especially minors. More loop holes to hide behind.
Keep it illegal!
And put more effort into catching the scum of the earth traffickers.
invalid CSRF
TrevorPeace
@Thuban, I voted you down only because of your specious comment, "The abandonment of morals by the left", which has nothing to do with this article. I consider myself a liberal-minded individual, but I'm not a 'leftist', and I have moral commitments that would shock idiots like you who think otherwise. There are just as many 'rightists' in the world with crappy morals as those you accuse of being 'leftists'. Grow up.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Legal prostitution is not a loophole. Either you are above the age of consent or you are not. Also it is pretty tough to hide pimping behavior in a legal brothel.
As I tried to imply, some people do actually need these services. The mentally and physically disabled, mainly.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-12/disability-sexuality-intimacy-connection-modern-dating/9931480
GillislowTier
The Japanese dating or more optly named “encounter” sites and apps are rife with these ladies.
I got no problem with it personally, everyone needs a side hustle as long as you do it safely. Kinda like the open sex shops that get away with it by being vague in describing what they do, the obvious people touting massages at 5am when clubs close is all “allowed” until it’s time for a raid to keep up appearances.
theResident
@Thuban - Take your extreme wing bible belt beliefs elsewhere please. You lot really are brainwashed freaks.
Harry_Gatto
Your first post here (using this user name at least) and you are an expert on all male politicians. How so?
Yuuju
A sad job to do
That would only be a fleeting smile. A bodily pleasure that has a bitter aftertaste (if not with additional health problems) and leaves a soul more empty.
Speed
Prostitution should be legalized. There's nothing "wrong" with this type of work as long as women do it voluntarily and not through coercion. Two consenting adults.
nukkuheddo
I think it is un-wise to make moral judgements - if you feel strongly about something you find immoral - don't be a customer. I think sex would very likely should be legal. The war on drugs was so effective wasn't it? If I understand it...people who are very jealous are exactly the kind of people who cheat. People who act holier than thou are likely quite hypocritical. I'm thinking a guy who walks with his bible and mock-solemnity to a church - paid hush money to a porn-star - was sued for sexual abuse - "grab'em by the pussy" on tape - there's non-left morality for you.
There used to be such a place in Kawasaki - I frequented it while going through an ugly divorce. Am I a bad person? have I ever missed a child support payment? - never.
NCIS Reruns
nukkuheddo@What do you mean "used to"? Horinouchi-cho is still going strong, although some of the ladies who sit in the windows are getting a bit long in the tooth. Just for the record, I went there are a news bureau's request to photograph samples of its Islamic architecture. :)
Babe Ruth
then I presume you'd have no problem if your mother, sister, or daughter prostituted herself?
Of course you would. And of course it shouldn't be legalized.
Normalizing degeneracy is demoralizing for any culture. and a harbinger of worse things to come.
Chabbawanga
The oldest profession
1glenn
I used to know a couple of young women who supplemented their income while going to college with activities that were of questionable legality. Not everyone has rich parents who can pay their way through university. The women I knew gave up what they were doing once they got their A.) teaching degree, and B.) doctorate. They went on to lead respected, productive lives. They did not hurt anyone, and they bettered their lives. They seemed to be well adjusted, to me, as well as hard working and, of course, beautiful. There were no drugs or coercion involved, other than the impetus to better themselves.
Babe Ruth
Did they tell their family and friends about their personal decisions?
If not, why not?
Babe Ruth
Their personal decisions are the exact opposite of well-adjusted.
1glenn
I do not advocate sex work, but I do try to understand it.
Jonathan Prin
I would never go for it but I understand it.
Seducing and knowing the person is a compulsory step for me. Otherwise would feel caveman.
Babe Ruth
Really?
Some might say you did.
As for trying to "understand" it. These girls you know decided to forego any number of jobs available in a 1st world country to get through college, but instead decided to prostitute themselves for a quick buck and a lifetime of shame and regret.
I think I understand it.
japancat
As the pimp said to the prostitute " Girl you are sitting on a fortune " LOL !!
GW
I hope these ladies freely share their pasts with boyfriends, husbands etc, but that is sadly highly unlikely, they will most likely lie about & then live lives based on lies, to everyone around them, kids, spouses, families, and it gets ugly quickly when the truth comes out.
So anyone doing this kind of work, please be honest about it
Anonymous
Avoided using the term prostitute. Very 2020s.