Industry News — Crime, Regulation & Trends

News

First Investigation Launched Into Illegal Scouting Group 'Natural'; Metropolitan Police Search Related Premises

On the 14th, the Metropolitan Police Department announced that it had searched two premises related to the illegal scouting group 'Natural' on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act. The group operates mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area and is said to have referred numerous women to sex-industry venues. The investigation will continue toward future prosecution.

Elon June 14, 2023

News

Sexual Exploitation of Technical Interns Comes to Light; A New Case Amid Calls to Abolish the Program

As the government considers abolishing and reviewing the technical intern training program, a new case of sexual exploitation of interns has come to light. The victims are female interns from Southeast Asia, and the host institution is said to have forced them to switch to providing sexual services.

Elon May 17, 2023

News

Prostitution Procurement Using Twitter (X) Surges; National Police Agency Releases Fact-Finding Survey

According to a fact-finding survey released by the National Police Agency, prostitution procurement using Twitter rose 80% year-on-year, revealing that the procurement of sexual services via social media is expanding rapidly. Strengthening regulatory obligations on platform operators has emerged as a challenge.

Elon April 12, 2023

News

Leader of Human-Trafficking Ring Arrested; International Network Spanning the Philippines and Japan

On the 14th, the Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of the leader of a human-trafficking ring connecting Japan and the Philippines. The reality of the ring came to light through an internationally coordinated investigation with Philippine authorities. The victimized Filipino women had been forced into the sex industry after entering Japan.

Elon March 14, 2023

News

Large-Scale Prostitution Ring Dismantled in Kyushu; Wide-Area Network Spanning Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki

On the 15th, a joint investigation team led by Fukuoka Prefectural Police cracked down on a prostitution ring that had been operating across three prefectures in Kyushu, arresting 11 executives and others. The ring is said to have based itself in Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki and to have managed more than 50 women.

Elon February 15, 2023

News

First Criminal Referral Under the New AV Law; Consumer Affairs Agency Refers Production Company for Obstructing Cooling-Off

On the 18th, the Consumer Affairs Agency announced that, in the first criminal referral since the Law to Prevent and Remedy Harm From AV Appearances took effect, it had referred to police a production company that obstructed cooling-off. When a victim requested cancellation of her contract, she was charged a penalty fee and forcibly made to continue filming.

Elon January 18, 2023

News

Looking Back at Sex-Industry Crime in 2022: New AV Law, Rising Scout Crackdowns, and the Challenge of Digitization

The National Police Agency released statistics summarizing trends in sex-industry-related crime in 2022. Industry changes brought by the enforcement of the new AV law, an increase in crackdowns on illegal scouting, and a surge in procurement using digital platforms emerged as the main trends.

Elon December 14, 2022

News

Chain Between 'Dark Part-Time Jobs' and Sex Crime Grows Serious; Teens Targeted Through SNS Recruitment

Cases in which 'dark part-time jobs' (yami-baito)—which lure young people with promises of 'high-paying work' on social media—lead into sex crimes are surging. Teenage girls in particular are being targeted, with growing numbers forced to film sexual videos or provide sexual services. Police are stepping up enforcement, but their response cannot keep pace with increasingly sophisticated methods.

Elon November 16, 2022

News

Vietnamese Prostitution Ring Cracked Down On; Suspected Abuse of the Technical Intern Program—7 Arrested in Tokyo and Saitama

On the 12th, police authorities arrested seven members of an organization that had been forcing Vietnamese women into the sex industry by abusing the technical intern training program. The victimized women are said to have had their passports confiscated and to have been threatened into working after entering Japan on 'technical intern' residency status.

Elon October 12, 2022

News

Operator of Digital Prostitution-Procurement Site Found Guilty; 'Technology Is No Cover for Crime

The Tokyo District Court handed down a guilty verdict to a defendant who operated a website procuring prostitution online. The presiding judge stated that 'even using digital technology, this remains an act of procuring prostitution,' delivering a stern judgment on the procurement of sexual services using online platforms.

Elon September 14, 2022