Sex in Japan is big business and for many women, it’s the only way they have found to get truly ahead in the “rat race”. Although the types of services available in a city like Tokyo are endless, this is a hierarchy, going from the least desirable positions to the elite fringes of the sex trade.

7. Street Walker

What do they do and where?

Found the world over, the street-walker is not unheard of in Japan, and they seem to be one of the lowest rungs on the Hooker Hierarchy. It’s unusual to find a Japanese female out working the streets, yet this has increased since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami but still, most of these ladies tend to be Chinese or Korean; Chinese in particular. The standard locations apply: Kabukichou, Ikebukuro, Kawasaki, but also Roppongi and Shin Okubo.

Whispers and Moans: Interviews with the Men and Women of Hong Kong’s Sex Industry by Yeeshan Yang, is an interesting book about Chinese street walkers.

Advantages for them?

Not to be confused with “catchers”, or ladies who are trying to flag down johns to take them into the club/parlor, these woman are actually independent contractors. They pay a certain “street tax” to whatever Yakuza group/Chinese Mafia group (or both) who control the area, and after that, are largely left alone. This allows them to work as much or as little as they need to, operate out of love hotels or their own home, and be able to have some level of selectivity when it comes to the customers they will be involved with.

What are the risks?

These ladies have very little in the way of “back up.” Although, by paying the street tax, they technically have a “ketsu-mochi”, or “butt-holder”, someone has their back. But the reality is in a one-to-one encounter gone wrong with a john, these women have no support. In addition to this, they are easy targets for police who can stop them on the pretense of checking their identification, search their belongings and then easily detain them.

What’s their Income?

Street walker income can vary wildly due to various factors. Prices ranging from as low as 6,000 yen per hour up to 15,000 yen per hour are standard and can be found in various locations. Their income is largely based on how attractive they are, how aggressive they are and how well they can close prospective johns. 30,000 yen a night would not be a particularly busy night, and this would be much more than the average office worker makes.

6. Enjo Kosai

What do they do and where?

We have mentioned it before, so this category should come as no surprise.

Enjo-Kosai, or “compensated dating”, is just what people call students who work freelance as hookers. It’s a disturbingly common thing in Japan, so much so, that in 2015 a UN official estimated that as many as 13% of Japanese high school girls engage in it. The internet, and the Japanese media, continually claim that in most instances, no sex occurs and the older man is simply paying for time with an attractive young girl.

Yeah, right.

Advantages for them?

It’s easy to do it and they keep all the money. Enjo Kosai, has been around for sometime, but it truly exploded with the importation of internet culture in Japan. Now, anyone can get involved. Men looking for these girls can reference websites like this one. Girls who want more cash can simply join a website. Although Enjo Kosai is not accepted by any means, it has a totally different stigma attached to it than regular fuzoku, and this tiny variation is enough, one can imagine, for a teenager to utilize to think what she’s doing is not what it really is.

What are the risks?

Three risks are clear. First, the john could be an abusive lunatic and the girl has no help to call other than the police, and that leads to risk number two; being exposed. Sure, the euphemism is wide-spread, but if the word gets out, especially to family, or Dad’s company, the party is over. The final risk, beyond an STD, is indoctrination; Enjo Kosai is the gate way drug for full-time prostitution and pornography.

What’s their Income?

Enjo Kosai can go from 10,000 per “date” to 50,000 yen. Again, the attractiveness of the girl and her ability to close prospective johns is paramount. Typical fees for sex are 20,000 because young sells.

What do they do and where?

The clubs are found in all the usual locations listed above with the addition of Gotanda and to a much lesser extent than the past, Yoshiwara. Soap lands are simple enough: the john arrives, selects a girl, is bathed by the girl and then sex transpires; think of a Turkish bath with hookers.

Sex Clubs, on the other and, exist in every conceivable form and style. Grope a girl on the Subway/ Molest a High school student/ get molested by a teacher/ have intercourse with a nurse: All of these fantasies and many more are offered at clubs all over Tokyo, and in fact, Japan.

Advantages for them?

The women who work in these establishments have a certain amount of job security compared to the aforementioned categories above. They can usually work as much or as little as they like, within reason, and many work part-time to supplement income from a “normal” job. The establishments themselves act as deterrents for dangerous or aggressive individuals, promote and maintain clear rule sets.

What are the risks?

Arrest, as always, is a risk if the club is providing services beyond what are advertised, and the police get wind of it. Also, further exploitation is rampant. Lots of girls took part-time jobs at a “touch pub” only to find they are suddenly working at a Soap Land to pay their new-found bills.

What’s their Income?

Regardless of what the establishment charges, girls generally average about 3,000-5,000 and hour. Much higher than even quality office work in Tokyo.

4.Rub and Tug

What do they do and where?

The rub n’ tug is an appealing option for girls who want to make extra cash because first, it avoids actually having sex with johns and second, is legal. Once a girl is selected, the john showers, and after the girl performs a massage . Once this is finished, she provides a manual stimulation to climax.

Advantages for them?

Aside from the advantages listed above, another two-sided advantage, is that the woman in question can actually tell people that she works as a masseuse, and it would be true. This small point, seemingly unimportant to many, can be a big deal with someone who needs extra cash but has moral hang ups regarding prostitution. In addition to this the venues are usually clean, safe and well-managed. The work is reliable and secure.

What are the risks?

This is, from this list, the lowest risk factor group by far. Apart from potential carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s about as risky as actually being a masseuse.

What’s their Income?

3,000- 5,000 yen an hour is not uncommon and again, this is much more than the average office worker makes.

3.Delivery Health

What do they do and where?

Affectionately referred to as “Domi-hoes” by a wayward acquaintance of mine, Delivery health professional come right to your home and help you “engage your core optimally whilst challenging general cardiovascular work capacity and deeply engaging the glutes.”

It looks something like this:

Advantages for them?

The first advantage is that due to the proliferation of the internet, these girls can be anywhere, and receive a mail which allows them on the spot to decide if they want to go meet the client or not. Although some work through websites and services, which require a fee, others simply set up an account on the right site and then pocket the profits all on their own.

What are the risks?

The girl could end up at the home of some guy wearing a UFC t-shirt with a collection of glass dildos and a clown mask. Hanging out in a whore house probably isn’t any kind of fun, but while some clients surely have nice accommodations, some surely do not. Violence, in this business, is always a risk as well.

What’s their Income?

Prices are usually based on time. Currently, for a standard, midlevel “professional” meaning someone who is probably a 6.5/10, the going rate is 10,000-12,000 yen (100USD) per hour, a big reduction from the industry standard 10 years ago of 20,000. Special services like SM etc cost as much as 300% more per hour but are available.

2. Porn girl at luxury whore houses

What do they do and where?

This small niche group, which is currently growing fast due to the lagging condition of the AV industry, is actually nothing new. Clubs are found here and there, with the above club “LUXURY” being found in Kawasaki, Tokyo. These clubs are much more “high-end” than a standard flop-house, providing fine dining, massage and other such amenities. The girls, often porn models who moonlight for extra cash, act as high-class hostesses, fulfilling all the clients needs. The particular club mentioned is owned by an individual who also owns and manages various adult-video modeling agencies and production companies.

Advantages for them?

Safety and a more elite clientele. They are also treated much better then standard delivery health girls or obviously, street-walkers.

What are the risks?

Illegality is an issue in most places. But the risks are relatively small. That having been said, the girls working in these clubs are usually porn talents as well, and are more deeply connected to the management than a street walker or a delivery health worker. They often live in apartments sublet by the club/agency and whether or not they get to work at all is determined by their good standing; so “No” to the wrong person too many times, and suddenly the money can vanish.

What’s their Income?

They get paid more. The starting price at LUXURY is 27,000 yen for 110 minutes. Realizing half this time is spent having a drink and bathing, the fee is high. The girls pocket around half of it. This also doesn’t include bonuses, tips and gifts given to the girls by the customers, and these would dramatically increase their take home pay. A 8/10, who understands her clients and is slightly motivated, could easily make over 100,000 (1000 USD) a week, with relatively little effort.

1. Dominatrix

What do they do and where?

These women (usually) work on the fringe of the sex industry in Sado-Masochism. Want to get tied up and spanked? Spit on and insulted? Flogged and sodomized? They got you, don’t worry. They operate all over Tokyo both at clubs and doing delivery, usually a combination of the two.

Advantages for them?

Due to the niche they occupy, these women generally have free reign to accept or reject customers with impunity. Although they provide a variety of services which to many seem reprehensible and disgusting , say, fisting some salary man’s flabby, hairy ass, many of them don’t actually provide real sex. They are also very in control and aware of the situation and their surroundings.

What are the risks?

The normal risks apply: brushing elbows with gangsters, the law always around every corner (although SM isn’t actually illegal) and the occasional insane customer. There are unique requests though, those can be considered risks if not handled properly. And like all the others, once you’re in this business, you’re really in. It can be hard to find an exit.

What’s their Income?

20,000 for 90 minutes is a conservative starting amount to as much as 35,000 depending on the Dominatrix and what the customer wants. Gifts, tips and bonuses are also normal, sometimes extravagant gifts, and these girls can make a very impressive living, without ever actually hooking. Spank some salaryman and insult the size of his junk, for 300 bucks an hour?

I think it’s time for me to make a career change.

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