TOKYO (TR) – There have been a series of cases where women who are charged high fees at host clubs are forced into prostitution to repay their debts.
As a result, the National Police Agency is seeking to make amendments to the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses to include restrictions on the so-called “scout kickback” payment system whereby adult entertainment establishments pay to hosts and scouts in return for introducing them to women.
According to NHK (Oct. 3), a series of cases have come to light surrounding host clubs where women who are charged high fees are forced into prostitution to repay their debts. Measures have been discussed since July this year at a study group attended by police and legal experts, as well as food and beverage industry groups.
According to the National Police Agency, the study group explained the scout kickback system includes adult entertainment establishments paying fees to hosts and scouts in return for introducing them to women.
During the session, the heinous reality of squeezing money out of debt-burdened women by forcing them to meet sales targets was raised as a problem.
In a case in August this year in which Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a host and other men for introducing a female customer with large debts to an adult entertainment establishment and receiving a fee. It is believed that the establishment had paid them a large kickback.
According to the National Police Agency, under current law, hosts and others who illegally arrange for adult entertainment establishments to hire women and receive kickbacks can be held accountable. But there are no restrictions on the sex entertainment establishments that pay them.
For this reason, the National Police Agency has decided to move forward with adjustments to amend the adult entertainment law to include restrictions on kickbacks based on the discussions at the study group.
