Okubo Park, Tokyo: Gathering place for sex workers.
High Arrest Rates: Over 40 people arrested monthly for illegal sex trade.
Discussion Focus: Explore Japan’s compensated dating industry despite the existence of a legal sex industry.
Rising Concerns
Syphilis Infections: Over 10,000 reported cases, with female infections increasing by 40 times over the past decade.
Age Demographics: Most infections concentrated among ages 20-40.
Public Discussion: Online discourse links increased infections to the compensated dating industry.
Understanding Compensated Dating
Definition: Compensated dating (or "assisted dating") involves young individuals, often students, receiving money/material rewards from older men for companionship, potentially including sexual transactions.
Service Variations: Some services are without physical relations, referred to as "daddy work".
Demographics of Practitioners:
Primarily young or underage students.
Married women and part-time workers also involved.
Includes "teenagers compensated dating" targeting the gay community and "reverse assisted dating" where the practitioner is older.
Legal Framework
Legal Sex Industry Regulations: Prohibits sexual penetration; only allows "sexual intercourse-like" behaviors.
Pricing: Legal services can start from 20,000 yen to over 80,000 yen, while assisted dating costs around 15,000 to 20,000 yen, making it more affordable.
Reasons for Growth in Compensated Dating
Economic Factors:
Currency depreciation increases financial strain.
Part-time work considered for additional income.
Impact of COVID-19:
Legal shop closures led to more individuals exploring assisted dating.
Cowherd Industry Debt:
Many arrested women involved in illegal trade to pay debts from Cowherd shops.
Minors often coerced into large debts due to lack of judgment.
Gender Inequality:
Women earn 20% less than men, upon economic recessions, women are more adversely affected.
Traditional views discourage women from pursuing careers post-marriage.
Social Implications
Security Concerns:
Increased crime and risks in areas like Okubo Park, attracting gray industries.
Lack of legal protections for practitioners.
Health Risks:
Higher risk of STIs due to lack of regular health checks among self-employed practitioners.
Syphilis infections potentially underestimated, with numbers possibly reaching 40,000.
Government Response
Increased Police Activity:
Inspections of areas known for assisted dating.
Banning underage consumers from Cowherd shops.
Effectiveness:
Initial decrease in sex trafficking rates, but resurgence noted as enforcement weakened.
Critiques of Government Approach
Superficial Solutions:
Critics argue the government targets symptoms rather than root causes like economic pressures and social systems.
Educational measures recommended to change perceptions about sexual relations and economic necessity.
Conclusion
Broader Issues:
Compensated dating influenced by economic, social, and systemic factors, including women’s rights and youth pressures.
Need for a comprehensive approach to tackle underlying issues of the compensated dating phenomenon in Japan.
Encouragement for Dialogue:
Call for discussions and awareness about the realities of the compensated dating industry and its implications.