crime

4 men arrested for employing 14-year-old girl at brothel

50 Comments

Police said Saturday they have arrested the operators of a brothel in Tokyo's Toshima Ward for employing a 14-year-old girl.

According to police, Kimihiro Tanigawa, 49, and three business partners who ran "Otsuka Cosplay Academy" were apprehended after it came to light that a junior high school girl had been providing sexual services at the unlicensed establishment since December 2012.

Fuji TV reported that the girl, who had run away from home, was employed by the suspects and was "servicing" around 20 men per day, earning the brothel 15 million yen over the course of two months.

During police questioning, the girl was quoted as saying, "I wanted money to go out and have fun with."

The club managers were arrested on a charge of violating child welfare laws.

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50 Comments
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I'm sure those 'earnings' are understated. I wonder if they'd employ their own daughters of a similar age. Probably.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Holy moly..... that is .. horrific. I hope they take that 15million yen back and spend it on counselling for her.

Where were here parents?! Why didn't they care she had run away?!

-2 ( +2 / -5 )

My God. Begs the question what she ran away from. And whether she has even been reported missing. Bet she barely saw any of that 15 million yen either. Poor kid. I am sure there are those who will say she knew what she was doing but at 14, and with the kind of upbringing I am guessing she has had - no you dont.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The fact that she ran away from home probably means that she was being abused there too.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

20 per day??

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Pedophiles are a bigger problem than most think. Clients should also be charged with the underage related sex charges. If that were the case, I suspect far fewer clients.

0 ( +5 / -6 )

In a country that has a poor sex education system "just say no" is not something that girls her age are familiar with, or have ever heard.

The cops should be looking for and arresting the guys that were with her as well for statutory rape. (But they won't)

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The clients won't get charged, as the cops are in league with the yaks that run these places and we're dealing with a culture that sexualises youngsters. This has to stop !

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Are you serious? These guys should not get 10 years or 20 or even 50 if it was up to me all of them would get 5 year minimum and than execution... It is absolutely discusting. Just the thought of that little girl being pretty much violated by 20 men a day is sickening. Parents need to be found and punished as well...

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

I have to agree with most posters here. I guess many Japanese will justify this situation by claiming it was her ゛free choice゛ - in a similar vein as some justify the ゛comfort children / women゛issue. However, kids need to be protected from predators out there. No excuses for all the pedophiles who raped this poor child - track them down and imprison them for 20 years.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

as the national age of consent in Japan is 13

Yawn. Name me one prefecture where a person can consent to sex at 13.

This girl has repeatedly left home since 2009. She wrote her age as being 19 on her resume for this most recent job. She had been involved in cash for sex before that. She earnt some 500,000 yen in the two months at this latest place and went to host clubs.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Daijoboots:

Sorry to bore you. I'm not familiar with the ages of consent by prefecture.

Also, do you have a source for your other information?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well, I believe the cops won't go after the customers with such zeal as the national age of consent in Japan is 13.

However the prefectural laws which the owners are being charged with, and with which take precedence, say that the age of consent is 16.

Yes the 13 year old law stands but what varies by region is a local law - act for sound upbringing of juveniles called 青少年健全育成条例 (seishounen kenzen ikusei jourei) and it includes a clause forbidding anyone to do the act of obscenity to juveniles.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

20 men.... a day.....

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Sorry to bore you.

That's ok.

I'm not familiar with the ages of consent by prefecture.

And yet is it these prefectural laws that are the ones used to prosecute.

Source of information that points to this girl being something less than the poor innocent thing some posters here deemed her to be (raped even):

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20130315-00000571-san-soci

2 ( +5 / -3 )

However the prefectural laws which the owners are being charged with, and with which take precedence, say that the age of consent is 16.

Oh do they now. Please, do show.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

this is a brutal torture 20 men per day. how did she sleep? what is her physical and mental condition?how did she stay there for 2 months? who is responsible, the Government, the society, the media? why the children are suffering from such conditions?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

However the prefectural laws which the owners are being charged with, and with which take precedence

Correct.

say that the age of consent is 16

Incorrect. It is 18 in Tokyo too.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japanese parents need to either dump the TV or turn it off from time to time and TALK with their children.

I'm not blaming the TV, but the lack of communication.

Where parents have good two way communication with their kids, this kind of thing doesn't tend to happen.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The way little girls are depicted on TV and in magazines as little sex-kittens it's no surprise many young women are actually DRAWN to the idea of giving up their bodies for some cash and thinking it's no big deal at all. And these four scumbags help perpetuate the idea that it's fun, exciting, and easy (for both girls and clients). Give them 15 years a piece for starters, and warn the public that such practices are unacceptable (won't happen -- not when you can walk into any convenience store for ice cream and see girls in junior highschool uniforms bending over or lying down in sexual positions). And DEFINITELY get this girl some help!

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Japanese parents need to...........

Here we go. Now it's the whole country.

Where parents have good two way communication with their kids, this kind of thing doesn't tend to happen.

I think this incident made the news precisely because it doesn't tend to happen.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I would like to start a lobby against sexual industry. Prostitutes are someones daughter/sister/mother. We shouldn't allow such thing to exist just because men need to release their sexual tension.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

We shouldn't allow such thing to exist

So make it free of charge and watch it evaporate.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

So make it free of charge and watch it evaporate.

What are you talking about? Any form of sexual business should be banned.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

this is more wide spread than Japanese may care to think. The girl appears to know what she doing....

3 ( +7 / -4 )

this is more wide spread than Japanese may care to think

Perhaps the Japanese are more aware of what's going on than you think.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

That is one messed up "little" girl. She new what she was doing, all through that. Click on the link the other poster provided read for yourself. This kid is serious damaged goods. Bad gravitates to bad, blame the four guys who hired her and blame her for signing up in the first place.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

blame her for signing up in the first place.

You can't blame a 14 year old girl, that's the entire point. That's why the age of consent is as it is. If she'd been running away for years what do you think she was running away from? Paradise?

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

There should be a statutory rape charge against those running that establishment.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Firstly we Start with the casteration of the owners and cliants. Then we jail them with other sex crime prisoners to become f/companions in prison. The Government conficates all property and moneys from the preadeters and puit it towards keeping them in Jail for life or give the option of Hurricuri as reget.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's no secret that quite a few Japanese schoolgirls have been providing sexual services to middle-aged salarymen to earn $$$ for designer labels.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

smithinjapan,

The way little girls are depicted on TV and in magazines as little sex-kittens it's no surprise many young women are actually DRAWN to the idea of giving up their bodies for some cash and thinking it's no big deal at all.

RIght!

Years ago, I watched the 6PM news and there was an interview with a 16 year old girl. Her face was mosaicked out and her voice was disguised so there was some degree of anonymity. But this girl proceeded to explain how much she got per "trick" and how much she made on the average weekend.

Why it was on at prime time, I cannot think.

TV and Manga are to blame for a lot of this.

Japanese media does NOT present a good role model.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

T_Rexmaxytime,

I would like to start a lobby against sexual industry. Prostitutes are someones daughter/sister/mother. We shouldn't allow such thing to exist just because men need to release their sexual tension.

There's something to be said for legalising it as in Belgium and Germany.

It's known as "the oldest profession" for a reason. Prostitution has been around for ever and trying to stop it would only drive it underground. That's not to say that I think it's a good thing, but at least, if it were legal, the "sex workers" would be registered and regular inspections could curb child prostitution.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The things is that many girls around this age know that this is an easy way to get money. I've heard it from the grape vine. From women who have done things like this when they were young or who knew someone who had pulled stunts like this just to get material things they wanted. It's also a fact that there are girls who look for older guys as well. It's not always a one way street, it's wrong no matter how you slice the lemon, but it's true.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It's no secret that quite a few Japanese schoolgirls have been providing sexual services to middle-aged salarymen to earn $$$ for designer labels.

I do not dispute the fact that girls in this country engage in this activity. I am in the unfortunate position of knowing a girl (but no in that way) who did enjo kosai. However, enjo is not as common as media sources make it out to be.

This is a horrible situation in all regards. It is sad that a girl thought her situation at home is so bad that she would prefer to work in the water business. So many are ready to blame uncaring parents, but did any of you stop to think how the parents might have been reasonable, and the girl resented any expectations the 'rents placed upon her?

I seriously doubt she did 20 men a day, every day. It goes against good business practice in the sex industry to have a young, nubile girl getting used so much. I also doubt the bosses were unaware of her true age.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I seriously doubt she did 20 men a day, every day.

The place was a "Pink salon" (google it if you don't know what one is). So, at least by the rules, she did not have intercourse with 20 guys a day. She lied about her age, so the shop may have been following the rules and not offering intercourse. The translation should probably be "sexual services".

(Disclaimer: I know about pink salons from the internet and have never been to one)

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I am very much against 13 year olds working in the sex industry as they are not mature enough to fully understand the conciquences. The employers should bow down in shame. They should receive long gaol terms. This missguided girl is but a victum of life circumstances.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

(Disclaimer: I know about pink salons from the internet and have never been to one)

Yeah, right! ;) I do know about pink salons BTW, and they are one of the things about Japan I do not understand. Why pay and not get full service? Even if this girl was offering appetizers and not a full course dinner she still had to have known what she was getting in to, just as the proprietors knew what they were getting with this girl.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

that's the gross side of japan

0 ( +3 / -3 )

You guys are way too judgmental, I am sure this young lady was simply earning money for college. College is expensive. With a name like Academy, it sounds fine, and Otsuka makes it sound clean and healthy.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I am so glad the police were on top of this. Now the owners will go to jail, the salon will be shut down, and the girl will be on the street where she will be oh, so much safer. Thanx! So glad the priorities have been sorted!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If she was servicing 20 men a day, when did she have time to go out and have fun? Also, 20 a day? Even at 30 minutes a pop that is a 10 hour working day.......

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is really sick. And the fact that it is happening so close by makes it incredulous. I hope this low life pimps will rot in jail!!! Talk about preying on the vulnerable!!!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Horrible, pls help her recover.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

"But! But! She was just part-timing! Really! She's learning the value of a working yen instead of receiving an allowance!"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All you people who are saying this was "brutal" etcetera, read the quote from the girl. “I wanted money to go out and have fun with.”

I don't think the girl was traumatized by her prostitution. She didn't say she was forced to do it. She said she did it for the money.

These dudes were "pimps." They would pimp out any female that they could.

My question is: Why did this girl flee her family & turn to prostitution? Was she being molested at home?

I think the girl will be fine. It's not like she was raped. She seemingly did it of her own free will. Maybe, one day, when she gets older, she will feel shame for doing this, but if she did it of her own free will, at least she doesn't have to deal with the trauma of rape.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Wakarimasen,

If she was servicing 20 men a day, when did she have time to go out and have fun? Also, 20 a day? Even at 30 minutes a pop that is a 10 hour working day.......

You're quite right. This has to be an exaggeration!

What about lunch and dinner?

Even if she was eating a conbini bento "on the job," as it were, "servicing" twenty men is pretty well impossible.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ Kimuzukashiiii,

Where were here parents?! Why didn't they care she had run away?!

Answer 1: In all likelihood at home. Answer 2 (in the form of a question): Which hallucinogenic drug are you under that is making you think the article says the parents didn't care the girl had run away?

@ Ewan Huzarmy,

The fact that she ran away from home probably means that she was being abused there too.

I suppose that's possible, but it's ALSO possible that her parents wouldn't let her do whatever she wanted, and so she ran away because "My parents won't let me do ANYTHING fun!" As evidence, I submit her reason for selling her body: “I wanted money to go out and have fun with.”

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Why a little girl would care more about money than her own safety and dignity? I was abused when I was 5 year old, so I can't get it at all >_<!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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