Sherry
Legend Member
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Prostitution in modern Japan, as defined under Japanese law, is the illegal practice of sexual intercourse with an 'unspecified' (unacquainted) person in exchange for monetary compensation,[1][2][3] which was criminalised in 1965 by the introduction of article 3 of the Anti-Prostitution Law (売春防止法, Baishun Bōshi Hō).[1][4] However, the definition of prostitution made illegal under this law is strictly limited to sexual intercourse with an 'unspecified person', and does not criminalise the sale of numerous other acts performed by sex workers in exchange for compensation, such as oral sex, anal sex, mammary intercourse and other non-coital sex acts; the Businesses Affecting Public Morals Regulation Law of 1948 (風俗営業取締法, Fūzoku Eigyō Torishimari Hō), also known as the "Law to Regulate Adult Entertainment Businesses", amended in 1985, 1999 and 2005,[5] regulates these businesses,[6] making only one definition of prostitution in Japan illegal.
Following the criminalisation of paid for sexual intercourse, the sex industry in Japan has developed into a number of varied businesses and offering services not prohibited under Japanese law. These fall into a number of categories known by various euphemistic names, such as soaplands, fashion health shops, and pink salons, with the term "health" commonly being a euphemism for sexual services. These businesses typically operate out of physical premises, either with their own employees or freelancers such as call girls, who may operate via Internet dating sites known as deai sites (Internet dating sites) or via delivery health services.
Service details outlined in English on a modern touchscreen panel
Delivery health (デリバリーヘルス, Deribarii herusu), also known as "shutchō health" (出張ヘルス) or by the abbreviation "deriheru" (デリヘル), is a category of sex work in Japan that offers a "call girl" or escort service, dispatching sex workers to their customers' homes or to hotels.[7][8][9] Delivery health businesses do not typically operate out of physical premises, instead employing freelancers, and advertise through handouts sent to mailboxes, posters in telephone booths, public toilets and similar places, usually in large cities within Japan; advertising is also conducted through a number of websites online.
Fashion health (ファッションヘルス, fasshon herusu), or "health" for short, is a form of massage parlor which circumvents Japanese laws by offering a range of services that stop short of sexual intercourse.[10] Fashion health clubs are typically found in most of Japan's larger cities, operating out of physical premises decorated with bright flashing lights and generally bright and garish decor. Often advertised euphemistically as "health clubs", fashion health clubs are known for occasionally confusing foreigners unfamiliar with fashion health businesses.[citation needed] Fashion health clubs commonly post pictures of their "masseuse" employees near the entrance, though the face and eyes may be censored with pixellation or black strips; some club entrances feature caricatured depictions of the services provided.
An image club (イメージクラブ, imējikurabu), or imekura (イメクラ), is a type of brothel in Japan similar to fashion health parlors, differing in that image clubs are typically themed in the style of common or popular sexual fantasies, such as an office, a doctor's surgery, a classroom, or a train carriage. Sex workers employed at image clubs, whose activities are usually limited to oral sex, wear exaggerated costumes appropriate to the setting and the desire of the customer.[11] Image clubs simulating molestation of female train passengers became popular in the wake of stricter enforcement of laws against groping on trains.[12]
This uniform is an example of the costumes worn in image clubs.Image clubs may offer itemized pricing for particular services, such as taking instant photographs, removing a woman's underwear or taking it home.[12] Women working at image clubs are paid around 30,000 to 35,000 yen per day, and may make more than 1 million yen per month.
A pink salon (ピンクサロン, pinkusaron), or pinsaro (ピンサロ) for short, is a type of brothel in Japan which specialises in oral sex. Pink salons avoid criminalisation under Japanese law by serving food, operating without showers or private rooms, and limiting the services provided to fellatio.[14] Pink salons may also offer additional activities such as fingering a customer's "companion", and sumata (intercrural sex). Pink salons are found across Japan, and workers commonly see a dozen or more customers per shift.
Pink salons in Japan
Soapland (ソープランド, sōpurando), or sōpu, which first developed following the criminalisation of compensated sexual intercourse with unacquainted persons in the late 1950s, began as a simple bathhouse service where women washed men's bodies. Originally referred to as "toruko-buro", meaning "Turkish bath", the businesses were renamed following a 1984 campaign by Turkish scholar Nusret Sancaklı [ja; tr], with the name "soapland" chosen as the winning entry in a nationwide contest.[16] The term is a "Japanlish" term, constructed from the two English words "soap" and "land".[10]
Soaplands exploit a legal loophole in Japanese law, wherein compensated sexual intercourse may be conducted between 'specified' (acquainted) persons. In his book 'Fuzoku Eigyo Torishimari' (Control of Sex Business Operations), Kansai University professor Yoshikazu Nagai documented the practice of soapland businesses, wherein customers pay an entry fee to 'use the bathing facilities', and a separate fee for a massage. Whilst the massage takes place, the masseuse and the customer become 'acquainted', resulting in any paid sexual services following this as not being viewed as prostitution as defined by the law, an interpretation that has been utilised since the 1960s.[10] However, some soaplands have, in previous decades, been prosecuted for violating the Anti-Prostitution Law, having been deemed to be places of prostitution, resulting in the cessation of these businesses.[17]
A number of different types of soapland exist, typically located in complexes with varying numbers of soaplands. Well known complexes can be found in Susukino in Sapporo, Yoshiwara and Kabukicho in Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kanazuen in Gifu, Ogoto in Shiga, Fukuhara in Kobe, Sagaminumata in Odawara, and Nakasu in Fukuoka. A number of other areas, especially in onsen ("hot springs") towns, also feature soaplands.[18] Although the main clientele for soaplands are men, there are also a few soaplands specifically for female clients.[19] Prices for a session at a soapland vary depending on location, time of day, rank of provider, and length of the session.
The front of one Soapland shop in 2015
Following the criminalisation of paid for sexual intercourse, the sex industry in Japan has developed into a number of varied businesses and offering services not prohibited under Japanese law. These fall into a number of categories known by various euphemistic names, such as soaplands, fashion health shops, and pink salons, with the term "health" commonly being a euphemism for sexual services. These businesses typically operate out of physical premises, either with their own employees or freelancers such as call girls, who may operate via Internet dating sites known as deai sites (Internet dating sites) or via delivery health services.
Service details outlined in English on a modern touchscreen panel
Fashion health (ファッションヘルス, fasshon herusu), or "health" for short, is a form of massage parlor which circumvents Japanese laws by offering a range of services that stop short of sexual intercourse.[10] Fashion health clubs are typically found in most of Japan's larger cities, operating out of physical premises decorated with bright flashing lights and generally bright and garish decor. Often advertised euphemistically as "health clubs", fashion health clubs are known for occasionally confusing foreigners unfamiliar with fashion health businesses.[citation needed] Fashion health clubs commonly post pictures of their "masseuse" employees near the entrance, though the face and eyes may be censored with pixellation or black strips; some club entrances feature caricatured depictions of the services provided.
An image club (イメージクラブ, imējikurabu), or imekura (イメクラ), is a type of brothel in Japan similar to fashion health parlors, differing in that image clubs are typically themed in the style of common or popular sexual fantasies, such as an office, a doctor's surgery, a classroom, or a train carriage. Sex workers employed at image clubs, whose activities are usually limited to oral sex, wear exaggerated costumes appropriate to the setting and the desire of the customer.[11] Image clubs simulating molestation of female train passengers became popular in the wake of stricter enforcement of laws against groping on trains.[12]
This uniform is an example of the costumes worn in image clubs.
A pink salon (ピンクサロン, pinkusaron), or pinsaro (ピンサロ) for short, is a type of brothel in Japan which specialises in oral sex. Pink salons avoid criminalisation under Japanese law by serving food, operating without showers or private rooms, and limiting the services provided to fellatio.[14] Pink salons may also offer additional activities such as fingering a customer's "companion", and sumata (intercrural sex). Pink salons are found across Japan, and workers commonly see a dozen or more customers per shift.
Pink salons in Japan
Soapland (ソープランド, sōpurando), or sōpu, which first developed following the criminalisation of compensated sexual intercourse with unacquainted persons in the late 1950s, began as a simple bathhouse service where women washed men's bodies. Originally referred to as "toruko-buro", meaning "Turkish bath", the businesses were renamed following a 1984 campaign by Turkish scholar Nusret Sancaklı [ja; tr], with the name "soapland" chosen as the winning entry in a nationwide contest.[16] The term is a "Japanlish" term, constructed from the two English words "soap" and "land".[10]
Soaplands exploit a legal loophole in Japanese law, wherein compensated sexual intercourse may be conducted between 'specified' (acquainted) persons. In his book 'Fuzoku Eigyo Torishimari' (Control of Sex Business Operations), Kansai University professor Yoshikazu Nagai documented the practice of soapland businesses, wherein customers pay an entry fee to 'use the bathing facilities', and a separate fee for a massage. Whilst the massage takes place, the masseuse and the customer become 'acquainted', resulting in any paid sexual services following this as not being viewed as prostitution as defined by the law, an interpretation that has been utilised since the 1960s.[10] However, some soaplands have, in previous decades, been prosecuted for violating the Anti-Prostitution Law, having been deemed to be places of prostitution, resulting in the cessation of these businesses.[17]
A number of different types of soapland exist, typically located in complexes with varying numbers of soaplands. Well known complexes can be found in Susukino in Sapporo, Yoshiwara and Kabukicho in Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kanazuen in Gifu, Ogoto in Shiga, Fukuhara in Kobe, Sagaminumata in Odawara, and Nakasu in Fukuoka. A number of other areas, especially in onsen ("hot springs") towns, also feature soaplands.[18] Although the main clientele for soaplands are men, there are also a few soaplands specifically for female clients.[19] Prices for a session at a soapland vary depending on location, time of day, rank of provider, and length of the session.
The front of one Soapland shop in 2015