Japan Constitutional Democratic Party Proposes Bill to Address Malicious Host Club Victim Issues
Recently in Japan, so-called "malicious host clubs" that charge female customers fees beyond their ability to pay, causing them to incur debt, and then coerce them into prostitution to recover the money, have emerged as a serious social problem, prompting the political sphere to take countermeasures.
According to reports from Asahi, Mainichi, Tokyo Shimbun, and others on the 28th, the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, plans to prepare the "Malicious Host Club Damage Countermeasure Promotion Bill" and submit it to the Diet within the current session. The Constitutional Democratic Party intends to strengthen the application of existing laws such as the Anti-Prostitution Law and the Consumer Contract Act to prevent the atrocities of malicious host clubs.
In Japan, "host clubs" featuring male attendants are legal. Recently, the number of women who start prostitution through host club arrangements to repay accumulated debts from frequent visits to host clubs has been increasing.
Yasuhiko Tsuyuki, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, unusually inspected Kabukicho street, where many host clubs are concentrated, and nearby Okubo Park last night. The Kabukicho area in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, is known for its concentration of host clubs. Okubo Park is known as a street where women, driven to repay debts due to the malicious operations of host clubs, stand on the streets soliciting male customers for prostitution.
Commissioner Tsuyuki emphasized, "The problem of malicious host clubs is very serious," and stated, "We will mobilize all legal measures to crack down on them."
The Japanese National Police Agency Chief and entourage inspecting the host club district Photo by Tokyo Kodo / Yonhap News
Those raising issues related to malicious host clubs are the victims themselves or their families. A woman in her 60s living in Japan reported that her 19-year-old nephew had been visiting host clubs since March and incurred debt. Eventually, the woman started working at a sex entertainment establishment introduced by a host and ran away from home in May. The woman, who has raised her nephew like a daughter for 10 years, appealed, saying, "Institutions such as the police station and child consultation centers said, 'Anyone over 18 is an adult, so nothing can be done,' but causing debt and introducing sex entertainment establishments for repayment is a crime."
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, nearly 40% of the 81 people arrested for prostitution around Okubo Park in the past three months admitted that they engaged in prostitution "to visit host clubs and the like."
In response, the political sphere also plans to prepare related legislation. The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party plans to submit a bill containing countermeasures soon.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 24th, in response to opposition questions, "We will take measures such as strengthening crackdowns and counseling."
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