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An increasing number of male foreign nationals are approaching men in and around Okubo Park in Tokyo’s infamous Kabukicho district to offer ***ual services in exchange for money.
According to investigative sources, two Filipino nationals and two Thai nationals between the ages of 26 and 37 were arrested.
They are suspected of illegal solicitation and waiting for customers.
The men reportedly told investigators that, “There are women waiting for customers in Kabukicho, so I thought I could do the same,” and “A friend told me I could engage in prostitution-like activities in Okubo Park.”
One of the four is a Filipino national, 26, who entered Japan in late November for a short-term stay.
He said he had four to five customers a day, charged 10,000 yen ($70) to 20,000 yen each time and earned about a million yen over 15 days.
He began coming to Japan for short stays this summer to make money and was arrested on his third visit.
The police believe that these men have been entering Japan on a short-term visa since the pandemic-related border control measures were eased.
During the crackdown, police said they noticed suspicious men watching the area. Police believe that lookouts warn the prostitutes when police are approaching.
The number of male foreign nationals soliciting male customers is increasing on the streets in and around the Wakabacho district in Yokohama’s Naka Ward as well, and Kanagawa prefectural police are stepping up their efforts to uncover them.
