Photo/Illutration A male Thai national, seen in back, is caught red-handed on suspicion of violating the Tokyo metropolitan government’s nuisance prevention ordinance. He was surrounded by investigators just before entering a hotel with a man in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district in Shinjuku Ward on Dec. 7. (Shoko Mifune)

An increasing number of male foreign nationals are approaching men in and around Okubo Park in Tokyo’s infamous Kabukicho district to offer sexual services in exchange for money.

Since the end of November, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has caught four of these men in the act of solicitation, which violates the Tokyo metropolitan government’s nuisance prevention ordinance.

This is the first time in three years following a lull in activity during the COVID-19 travel restrictions that Tokyo police have made any arrests for violating that particular ordinance.

According to investigative sources, two Filipino nationals and two Thai nationals between the ages of 26 and 37 were arrested.

They are suspected of illegal solicitation and waiting for customers.

The men reportedly told investigators that, “There are women waiting for customers in Kabukicho, so I thought I could do the same,” and “A friend told me I could engage in prostitution-like activities in Okubo Park.”

One of the four is a Filipino national, 26, who entered Japan in late November for a short-term stay.

He said he had four to five customers a day, charged 10,000 yen ($70) to 20,000 yen each time and earned about a million yen over 15 days.

He began coming to Japan for short stays this summer to make money and was arrested on his third visit.

Under Japan’s Anti-Prostitution Law, waiting for customers for the purpose of prostitution is illegal. However, the law only applies to women.

On the other hand, the Tokyo ordinance prohibits soliciting and waiting for customers for the purpose of prostitution-like activities regardless of gender.

According to police, foreign nationals have been offering sexual services around the park for some time.

During to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was reduced significantly. Since September, however, Tokyo police have been receiving reports of “people standing around the park for the purpose of soliciting prostitution.”

The police believe that these men have been entering Japan on a short-term visa since the pandemic-related border control measures were eased.

During the crackdown, police said they noticed suspicious men watching the area. Police believe that lookouts warn the prostitutes when police are approaching.

The number of male foreign nationals soliciting male customers is increasing on the streets in and around the Wakabacho district in Yokohama’s Naka Ward as well, and Kanagawa prefectural police are stepping up their efforts to uncover them.

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