TOKYO (TR) – A lucrative and exploitative pipeline is thriving in Tokyo’s nightlife districts.
According to a report from Fuji News Network (Oct. 7), teenage girls are being lured into prostitution to fund astronomical tabs at so-called “men’s concept cafes” run by former underground entertainers.
In June, a male employee at one such establishment was arrested for illegally admitting a 14-year-old junior high school student. The suspect, a former “men’s underground idol” (men-chika), allegedly pressured his underage fan to order exorbitant bottles of champagne. To settle the massive bill, the young girl was forced to sell her body on the streets.
The case highlights a growing crisis surrounding men-con (men’s concept cafes), where male staff — often failed or former fringe pop idols clad in makeup and costumes — entertain female patrons. Operating under the guise of casual cafes but licensed to serve alcohol, the establishments boast an atmosphere nearly identical to Kabukicho’s notorious host clubs.
“Champagne towers”
Prices are designed to drain wallets. While a basic drink might cost 1,000 yen, staff heavily push “champagne towers” that easily exceed 1 million yen. According to one cafe worker, a single establishment can see up to 5 million yen change hands in one night.
“There are a lot of guys who transition from underground idols to concept cafes,” the worker confessed. “As idols, they can’t always meet fans directly. But at a cafe, they can meet privately and essentially become gigolos. It’s the perfect setup to catch vulnerable young girls who can’t make sound judgments and squeeze money out of them using pseudo-romance.”
The financial ruin of these young customers is staggering. One woman in her 20s admitted she had poured 2.5 million yen into the subculture since she was in high school. “It’s fun just to watch them, and they are good talkers. I go once or twice a week,” she said.
Flocks of underground idols
Despite laws prohibiting minors from entering establishments that serve alcohol, the rules are frequently flouted. A 15-year-old girl told reporters she was previously coerced into binge drinking at a men-con, recalling that a male staff member pressured her by saying he “wanted to finish out his last day” drinking with her.
The aggressive tactics begin long before the girls enter the cafes. Flocks of underground idols regularly loiter outside JR Shinjuku Station to scout and solicit young passersby. The aggressive touting has become so severe that Shinjuku Ward Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi recently addressed the issue in the ward assembly, vowing to crack down on the relentless harassment of pedestrians.
“Underage-friendly”
While some cafes claim they have tightened ID checks amid increased police scrutiny, the demand from minors remains high. Social media platforms are littered with posts from high schoolers pleading for “underage-friendly” concept cafes. During a series of coordinated police sweeps in Kabukicho this summer, officers caught several underage girls carrying forged student IDs specifically manufactured to bypass cafe security.
Tachibana, a representative of the BOND Project — an organization that patrols the streets to protect runaway and vulnerable youth — says these cafes prey on loneliness.
“They might feel a traditional host club is too intimidating, but a concept cafe seems casual,” Tachibana explained. “These are often girls who have nowhere to go, who can’t stay at home or attend school, and just want someone to listen to them. They stumble into these places and get hopelessly hooked.”
