Japanese citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked within Japan and to a lesser degree abroad.
[11] There is inadequate screening for trafficking indicators following the identification of children in the Japanese commercial sex industry by law enforcement.
[14][15] During the Asia–Pacific War, comfort women from Japan and other nations were sex trafficked throughout the Japanese mainland and Japanese-occupied territories.
[17] People unable to pay bills at host and hostess clubs have been forced to repay debts by offering sex services in Japan or are sent overseas.
Some JK businesses offers "hidden options," and attract high school girls looking to earn extra money.
Once they arrive in Japan, they are subsequently forced into sex work, however, their involvement in the adult entertainment industry is generally regarded as voluntary participants, whatever their circumstances.
Combined with factors such as psychological intimidation, language barriers, and cultural differences, foreign women are in a highly vulnerable position.
[2] Japanese citizens, in addition to foreign women, are deceived by malicious individuals who claim to be fashion model agents.
The victims are then convinced to sign phony contracts, legally binding them to participate in prostitution and the production of pornography.
The organization had created and distributed materials to raise awareness about human trafficking, including a manga titled Blue Heart.
[6][3] ZOE Japan combats child trafficking and offers free educational resources in English and Japanese, as well as a hotline for children that are victims of exploitation.
[23] On March 29, 2016, a cabinet decision was made on "Regarding basic policies on activities relating to measures against sexual exploitation etc.
Seven major prefectures maintained ordinances banning JK businesses, prohibiting girls younger than 18 from working in compensated dating services, or requiring JK business owners to register their employee rosters with local public safety commissions.
[23] The Ministry of Justice's Human Rights Division provides temporary protections to victims and monitors industries and job brokers that recruit foreign nationals.