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Host Arrested for Forcing Women Into Sex Work to Repay 2 Million Yen Debt

TOKYO, Oct 20 (News On Japan) - Police have arrested a former host and several associates for allegedly coercing female customers into sex work after exploiting their romantic feelings and saddling them with massive debts.

Yuto Takasaki, a 23-year-old former host, and Ryusei Kusamoto, a 29-year-old self-described job broker, were among four suspects sent to prosecutors on the morning of October 17th on suspicion of arranging jobs for women in their teens and twenties at sex establishments in Osaka’s Chuo Ward and other areas last year.

According to police interviews, Takasaki and the others lured women in their 20s, who were customers at a host club, into developing romantic feelings through a manipulative tactic known as "irokoi eigyo" (romance-based sales). They then burdened the women with roughly 2 million yen in “urikake” — unpaid bills — and forced them to work in sex-related businesses to repay the debt.

While Kusamoto has declined to comment on the allegations, Takasaki admitted his involvement, telling investigators, "I only made the introductions because I was asked to." Police are continuing to investigate the full details of the case.

Source: YOMIURI

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