Prostitution, as defined under modernJapanese law, is the illegal practice ofsexual intercourse with an 'unspecified' (unacquainted) person in exchange for monetary compensation,[1][2][3] which was criminalised in 1956 by the introduction of article 3 of theAnti-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 bysex workers in exchange for compensation, such asoral sex,anal sex,mammary intercourse, and other non-coitalsex acts; theBusinesses 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 payment for sexual intercourse, the sex industry inJapan 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 ascall girls, who may operate via Internet dating sites known asdeaisites (Internet dating sites) or via delivery health services.
Fashion health (ファッションヘルス,fasshon herusu), also known as "fashion massage", is a form ofmassage parlor which circumvents Japanese laws by offering a range of services that stop short of sexual intercourse.[7] 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. They 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 featurecaricatured depictions of the services provided.[8][9][failed verification] It was especially famous by that name in the 1980s.[10]
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 abbreviationderiheru (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.[11][12][13] Delivery health businesses do not typically operate out of physical premises, instead employing freelancers, and advertise through handouts sent to mailboxes, posters intelephone booths,public toilets and similar places, usually in large cities within Japan; advertising is also conducted through a number of websites online.[citation needed]
Animage club (イメージクラブ,imējikurabu), orimekura (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 popularsexual fantasies, such as an office, a doctor's office, 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.[14] Image clubs simulating molestation of female train passengers became popular in the wake of stricter enforcement of laws againstgroping on trains.[15]
Image clubs may offer itemized pricing for particular services, such as taking instant photographs, removing a woman's underwear or taking it home.[15] 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.[16]
Apink salon (ピンクサロン,pinkusaron), orpinsaro (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 tofellatio.[17] Pink salons may also offer additional activities such asfingering a customer's "companion", andsumata (intercrural sex). Pink salons are found across Japan, and workers commonly see a dozen or more customers per shift.[18]
Soapland (ソープランド,sōpurando), orsōpu, 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 astoruko-buro, meaning'Turkish bath', the businesses were renamed following a 1984 campaign by Turkish scholarNusret Sancaklı [ja;tr], with the name "soapland" chosen as the winning entry in a nationwide contest.[19] The term is awasei-eigo term, constructed from the twoEnglish wordssoap andland.[7]
Soaplands exploit aloophole in Japanese law, wherein compensated sexual intercourse may be conducted between "specified" (acquainted) persons. In his bookFuzoku 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.[7] 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.[20]
A number of different types of soaplands exist, typically located in complexes with varying numbers of soaplands. Well-known complexes can be found inSusukino inSapporo,Yoshiwara andKabukicho inTokyo,Kawasaki, Kanazuen inGifu, Ogoto inShiga, Fukuhara inKobe, Sagaminumata inOdawara, andNakasu inFukuoka. A number of other areas, especially inonsen ('hot springs') towns, also feature soaplands.[21] Although the main clientele for soaplands are men, there are also a few soaplands specifically for female clients without sexual services.[22] Prices for a session at a soapland vary depending on location, time of day, rank of provider, and length of the session.
Sumata (素股, "bare crotch"),[23] translated as "intercrural sex",[24] is the Japanese term for anon-penetrativesex act popular in Japanese brothels. It is a form ofgenital-genital rubbing performed by a female sex worker upon a male client. The sex worker rubs the client'spenis with her thighs (intercrural sex) andlabia majora.[25][23] The goal is to stimulateejaculation without penile vaginalpenetration, an activity circumventing the Anti-Prostitution Law.[26]
