Prostitution in Japan has existed throughout the country's history. While the Prostitution Prevention Law of 1956 states that "No person may either do prostitution or become the customer of it", loopholes, liberal interpretations and a loose enforcement of the law have allowed the Japanese sex industry to prosper and earn an estimated 2.3 trillion yen ($24 billion) per year.[1]
Sex trade and sex services may be referred to as fūzoku (風俗), which also means "manners", "customs" or "public morals".
Since Japanese law defines prostitution as "intercourse with an unspecified person in exchange for payment", most fūzoku services offer specifically non-coital services, such as conversation, dancing or bathing, sometimes accompanied by sexual acts that legally are not defined as "intercourse", in order to remain legal.[2]
- ^ Hoffman, Michael (25 April 2007). "Japan's love affairs with sex". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ Hongo, Jun (27 May 2008). "Law bends over backward to allow fuzoku". japantimes.co.jp. the japan times. Retrieved 1 June 2020.