TOKYO – Despite a rare and stern warning issued by the Japanese Embassy in Laos last year, a number of Japanese men continue to be arrested in connection with child prostitution and statutory rape in the Southeast Asian nation, reports the Mainichi Shimbun (Apr. 19).
Laos remains a landlocked country hampered by delayed economic development, where poverty continues to drive human trafficking. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly urged its citizens to strictly refrain from engaging in child prostitution abroad.
However, arrests continue to pile up. On December 8 of last year, Lao authorities detained a Japanese man in his 50s in the ancient city of Luang Prabang on suspicion of rape of a minor. The Japanese Embassy in Laos was officially notified of his detention in January.
The man, who remains in custody, is accused of staying in a hotel room with three girls aged between 12 and 16, allegedly buying them for sex. Under Lao criminal law, sexual intercourse with a child aged 12 or younger — regardless of the circumstances — can result in 10 to 15 years in prison or severe fines.
Domestic arrests follow suit
The crackdown on sex tourism has also extended to Japan, where local police forces are actively pursuing perpetrators based on evidence gathered abroad.
Last August, Aichi Prefectural Police arrested a 65-year-old unemployed man from Nagoya for violating child prostitution and pornography laws. He was accused of filming obscene acts with underage girls in Laos.
A notebook seized by investigators revealed a staggering paper trail: between 2014 and 2025, the man had kept detailed records of his sexual encounters with more than 140 girls under the age of 18 across Southeast Asia.
“Emperor of Laos”
In another high-profile case earlier this year, Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a 61-year-old part-time worker from Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, in January. He was taken into custody for using a fake address to register a rental server.
The server was used to host a blog detailing his experiences and instructional methods for purchasing underage girls in Laos. Calling himself “Lao-ji, Emperor of Laos,” the suspect reportedly traveled to the country 17 times between 2018 and 2022 to engage in the illicit acts.
Last June, the Japanese Embassy in Laos issued an unusual warning to travelers, explicitly stating that purchasing sex could lead to severe child rape charges in Laos, as well as simultaneous prosecution under Japan’s anti-child prostitution and pornography laws upon return.
“Please strictly observe the laws and regulations of both countries and refrain from any illegal acts,” the embassy warned, noting the tragic reality that young girls from rural villages are frequently trafficked and exploited by foreigners, including Japanese nationals.
