News On Japan

Police Bust Syndicate Pimping Japanese Women to U.S.

TOKYO, Apr 04 (News On Japan) - Four men have been arrested by Tokyo police for allegedly recruiting women for prostitution in the United States via a website, promising encounters with affluent clients and high earnings.

The suspects, including broker Yoshihiko Usui (53) and website creator Ryosuke Imamura (37), are accused of introducing two women, in their 20s and 30s, to prostitution opportunities abroad last year.

According to the police, Usui and his associates advertised earnings of "ten million yen per month" on their website, having sent around 200 women to overseas brothels over three years, generating sales close to 200 million yen.

While three of the suspects have admitted to the charges, Imamura has partially denied them, claiming he did not believe the recruitment was for prostitution purposes.

The case came to light following alerts from U.S. border authorities regarding a series of Japanese women being denied entry due to suspected travel for prostitution.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police are cautioning against travel for prostitution purposes, noting that such endeavors not only pose legal risks but also expose individuals to financial disputes and other dangers abroad.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japan’s population of Japanese nationals has decreased for the 16th consecutive year, according to demographic data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. As of January 1st, 2025, the Japanese population stood at 120.65 million, a drop of roughly 910,000 from the previous year—marking the largest annual decline on record.

A severe and prolonged heatwave is taking a widespread toll across Japan, affecting everything from traditional summer events to vegetable harvests and dairy farms.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the fire that broke out during the Minato Mirai fireworks festival in Yokohama, where five workers had to be rescue from an exploding barge.

Japan’s government plan to flood the market with stockpiled rice to lower prices is facing setbacks, as demand slumps and cancellations from retailers increase. Initially popular, the rice is now piling up on shelves, prompting calls to extend the end-of-August sales deadline. Even discounted imported rice is struggling to sell. Meanwhile, rice prices have unexpectedly risen for the first time in 10 weeks.

Australia has selected Japan’s proposal for the joint development of next-generation naval vessels, marking a significant milestone in bilateral defense cooperation.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

An increasing number of South Korean men are traveling to Japan to find Japanese wives, with some making repeated trips each year until they meet a potential partner. Behind this trend lies a mix of cultural expectations and economic pressures.

August 6th marks 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. At Yakushiji Temple in Nara, a bell rang out with prayers for peace.

A centuries-old temple in Osaka has become a hotspot for trespassing and online ghost-hunting rumors, following the absence of its head priest and the fallout from a criminal case involving its former leader.

A barge used to launch fireworks caught fire during the Minato Mirai Smart Festival 2025 held in Yokohama’s waterfront district on Monday night, prompting an emergency response.

A hidden problem lies behind the seemingly ordinary streets of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. A vehicle belonging to the ward’s government arrives at a heavily overgrown property. The team inside is part of a specialized task force dealing with abandoned homes, and today they are conducting an inspection of one such property.

Four male workers in their 50s died after falling into a manhole during a sewer inspection in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, and none of them were wearing fall-prevention safety harnesses, it has been revealed.

Two high school boys drowned in a pond in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, after playing in the water with their friends and reportedly stepping into a deep section where they went under.

In Kyoto’s historic Gion district, geisha and maiko made their annual rounds on August 1st—known in the old lunar calendar as "Hassaku"—to express gratitude to their mentors and local teahouse proprietresses, even as temperatures soared to a predicted high of 37°C.