TOKYO - Today, I want to talk about why Japan has so many kinds of adult entertainment.
These days, lots of foreign tourists are visiting Japan, and many of them are surprised by the wide range of adult services available. Japan is known for having all kinds of restaurants—soba, udon, sushi, tempura, eel, tonkotsu—you name it. People enjoy each one in their own way. It’s the same with adult entertainment. Japanese people enjoy different types, just like they enjoy different foods.
1. A Sex-Positive Country
In the late 1800s, Western visitors were shocked by how open Japanese people were about sex. They were especially surprised by geishas, kabuki shows, and mixed-gender bathing. Back then, some geishas and kabuki actors openly worked as prostitutes. A Danish naval officer once said, "Unlike other prostitutes, geishas don’t see themselves as immoral. That’s their strength." How did he know that? You can guess.
A German archaeologist who came to Japan was also surprised. He saw men and women bathing together and people of all ages enjoying kabuki shows with sexual scenes. He said, "I don’t understand how a society that enjoys such things can also be so polite and spiritual." That tells us that Japanese attitudes towards sex haven’t changed much in 200 years.
The first British ambassador to Japan observed, "Prostitution in Japan seems to be a public system and not considered shameful." Looks like he was trying to justify it. In short, Japan has always been a country that enjoys sexual freedom. But after Westerners started pushing their morals, Japan became more discreet about it.
2. Prostitution Prevention Law
In Japan, we don’t have a prostitution prohibition law. Instead, we have a Prostitution Prevention Law. In Japanese, it's a law with so many loopholes, it's more like a "cheat code."
First, you have to know that in Japan, prostitution is defined as baishun, which means actual sex or penetration. So apart from penetration, other kinds of sexual acts are not counted as baishun. Basically, we don’t have a prostitution prevention law—we have a penetration prevention law.
Usually, these kinds of laws prohibit prostitutes from providing any sexual services. But in Japan, they only ban penetration. Yes, prostitution prevention laws prohibit penetration. So except for penetration, non-penetrative play is permissible. That’s why Japan created many unique types of sexual services and became a leading country in hentai innovation.
And as you already know, some sexual stores allow penetration. That’s obvious. They just "fall in love." Yes—real love is beyond the law.
3. Japan’s Indigenous Religion
Japan’s indigenous religion, Shinto, is a nature-based religion, and sex is considered very natural. Japanese gods are, well... hentai.
Have you ever heard of the Kojiki? The Kojiki is the oldest historical book in Japan. According to the Kojiki, the god Izanagi and goddess Izanami created Japan. They were trying to create islands on Earth, but didn’t get it quite right at first. So to set a romantic mood, they decided to walk around a large pillar and pretend to meet for the first time.
"Wow, what a nice man!"
"Oh, what a nice woman!"
"Who’s your daddy?"
"Oh my god!"
The Japanese gods were into all kinds of role-playing from the start.
4. Many Kinds of Night Entertainment
Please look at this chart. In Japan, sexual establishments are roughly divided into eight types. Starting from the bottom, the services become more sexual with each level.
If you want to know more about the hidden side of Japan, please come to my new comedy show and tour in the red-light district in Tokyo!
Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
