When Rina (not her real name) first sought refuge at a Tokyo-based non-profit organisation last year, she was struck by the kindness of one of its social workers – someone she believed was dedicated to protecting runaway children and women seeking to escape from the city’s sex work industry.
Rina said: “I wanted to believe he is not doing that. He’s a safe guy, he’s a superhero, he’s trustworthy. I’m pretty disappointed because the organisation was [supposed to be] a safe place.”
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Is Tokyo turning into Asia’s new sex tourism destination?
Is Tokyo turning into Asia’s new sex tourism destination?
Those concerns have heightened since May, when police arrested Yoshihide Tanaka, 44, former secretary general of Nippon Kakekomidera and co-representative of Seiboren. The two organisations have been campaigning for tighter rules for the adult entertainment industry to protect women and “Toyoko kids”, or street children in the red-light district of Kabukicho in the Japanese capital.
Police arrested Tanaka after he was found in possession of cocaine. He was arrested in Shinjuku alongside a young woman who, according to police, had sought his advice about host clubs. Both Tanaka and the woman later tested positive for cocaine.
