"The Kabukicho Lawyer" Exposes: The Truth Behind "Full-Service Troubles" and Cross-Cultural Gaps in the Delivery Health Scene

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Reality of the Night City and International Perspectives

2. Laws and Terminology Surrounding Japan's Sex Industry

3. Case Study: When the "SOS Call" Rings to the Manager

4. Attorney Wakabayashi's Field Report

5. Five Risks Arising from Coerced Full-Service Acts

6. Before the Lawyer Steps In: The Course of Settlements, Police, and SNS Scandals

7. Three Points Foreigners Often Misunderstand

8. Comparison of Regulations Between Japan and Overseas: The Current State of the Legalization Debate

9. Systems Protecting Involved Parties and Their Limitations

10. How Technology is Changing the Night Business

11. Future Challenges and Recommendations

12. Conclusion: Balancing Dignity and Safety

1. Introduction: The Reality of the Night City and International Perspectives

Tokyo's Shinjuku Kabukicho is known as the "city that never sleeps," attracting about 30 million tourists annually. On the other hand, consultations on sex industry troubles exceed 5,000 cases annually, with about 40% of these disputes involving "full-service acts," according to statisticsdaylight-law.jpkeiji-pro.com. In recent years, information spreads instantly on SNS, making it easier for issues to surface. The increase in foreign tourists also exacerbates misunderstandings, which cannot be overlooked.

2. Laws and Terminology Surrounding Japan's Sex Industry

• Prostitution Prevention Law (enacted in 1956)

  • Punishes acts of soliciting, managing, or mediating prostitution. There are no direct penalties for the parties involved in buying or selling sexasiro.co.jp.
    
    

• Entertainment Business Law (amended in 1984 to include delivery health)

  • Classifies store-based and dispatch-type sex businesses (delivery health) as "entertainment dining services." Intercourse is explicitly prohibited.
    
    

• Non-consensual Sexual Intercourse Crime (Criminal Code Amendment 2023)

  • Non-consensual intercourse carries a fixed-term imprisonment of 5 years or more. Securing evidence is key in night-time incidents.
    
    

Full-Service Act (Honban)
An industry slang in Japan referring to intercourse. Delivery health is originally registered as a service that does not involve intercourse.

3. Case Study: When the "SOS Call" Rings to the Manager

A cast member, Ms. A, was pressured by a customer to engage in full-service for an additional 30,000 yen upon arriving at the hotel, which she refused. The customer forcibly proceeded, and Ms. A called the store manager in tears immediately after the play ended, claiming she was forced into full-service. The manager, hearing her plea, immediately called 110 and contacted a lawyer—this is the typical flow, says Attorney Wakabayashibunshun.jpexcite.co.jp.

4. Attorney Wakabayashi's Field Report

Mr. Wakabayashi has handled over 3,000 troubles in Kabukicho. "Settlement amounts range from 300,000 to 2 million yen," "threats to expose on SNS," and "forced full-service leading to non-consensual sexual intercourse crimes" are among the diverse patternsbunshun.jpnexpert-law.com. When a report is filed, the police secure evidence such as hotel card key records, surveillance camera footage, and LINE history. In cases involving foreign perpetrators, securing them before departure is difficult, with some arrests reported at airports.

5. Five Risks Arising from Coerced Full-Service Acts

(Source: Attorney Wakabayashi's Hearing, Ben Navi Criminal Case Statistics)keiji-pro.comnexpert-law.com

6. Before the Lawyer Steps In: The Course of Settlements, Police, and SNS Scandals

1. First 30 Minutes: Manager contacts police and lawyer simultaneously.

2. Evidence Preservation: Securing used condoms, sheets, and hotel camera footage.

3. Settlement Negotiations: Representative lawyer contacts the customer side. Settlement success rate is about 60%fujigakilaw.com.

4. Non-prosecution or Prosecution: Even if not prosecuted, the customer is registered on the store's blacklist. Risk of exposure on SNS.

7. Three Points Foreigners Often Misunderstand

• Misunderstanding of "Tipping Culture" ― Belief that paying extra allows for intercourse.

• Confusion with "Escort" ― The legal status of "full service escort" in the West differs from Japan's delivery health.

• Communication Gap ― Cultural differences in interpreting "No" ambiguously lead to consent errors.

8. Comparison of Regulations Between Japan and Overseas: The Current State of the Legalization Debate

Attorney Wakabayashi, who advocates for legalization, points out that "underground activities are more dangerous."excite.co.jp.

9. Systems Protecting Involved Parties and Their Limitations

• Sex Industry Health Check Subsidy (Tokyo)

• Special Enrollment in Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance (Amendment in 2024)

• Support Organizations (Pink House, Colabo, etc.)
  
  

However, under the Entertainment Business Law, they are not recognized as workers, and there is no obligation to set up harassment consultation desks.

10. How Technology is Changing the Night Business

• AI Translation Chat × Delivery Health Reservations → Visualization of Prior Consent

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