Tokyo Police Arrest 112 Over Street Prostitution in Kabukicho

Mar 16, 2026 | News On Japan

Mar 16, 2026 (News On Japan) - Tokyo police announced that a total of 112 women and girls were arrested over the past year for allegedly soliciting customers for prostitution on the streets of Kabukicho, one of the capital’s largest entertainment districts.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the arrests were made for suspected violations of the Anti-Prostitution Law involving individuals who engaged in so-called “tachinbo,” or standing on the street while waiting for customers, mainly around Okubo Park in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area. Among those arrested were a 16-year-old high school student from Saitama Prefecture and a 45-year-old employee of a sex-related business.

Although the overall number of people waiting for customers on the street has been declining, arrests involving teenagers—including minors—rose sharply, increasing from three the previous year to 14.

Police said the reasons for engaging in the activity varied, but a 16-year-old unemployed girl, the youngest among those arrested, told investigators she was trying to earn money to spend on underground male idol performers. Authorities said more than 40 percent of those arrested cited the need for money to spend at host clubs and similar nightlife venues.

The Metropolitan Police Department said it has also strengthened efforts to support rehabilitation, including referring 15 individuals to welfare offices, and indicated it will continue implementing measures aimed at preventing further cases and helping those involved reintegrate into society.

Source: TBS

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