Using PayPay and SNS to Fund Alcohol and Tobacco Shocking Trends among Tōyoko Kids

I don’t have money, so help me out.” ……Toyoko Kids Make Pennies on SNS

“Help me, I don’t have any money,” the Tōyoko Kids are making little cash through social media.

Shinjuku Kabukichō is one of Japan’s largest entertainment districts, known for attracting a large number of visitors at all hours. In the heart of this area, Tōyoko Square is a gathering place for a group of delinquent girls known as the “Tōyoko Kids.”

Despite interventions from the police and the local government, the behavior of these girls continues to grow more precarious, with daily scenes of them causing chaos while holding cigarettes and alcohol.

Many of them are runaways with no safe place to go. With the rising prices of cigarettes and alcohol each year, one might wonder how they manage to acquire them. When I spoke to them, I received an unexpected answer.

“I’m not working, so I’m raising money through social media. I post casual selfies on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) with messages like ‘Help me, I don’t have any money.’ Many people end up sending me small amounts. Individually, the amounts aren’t much, but when dozens of people contribute, it adds up to a decent sum. I don’t want to go home, so I use the money to stay at internet cafes.” (S-san)

According to S-san, she receives about 5,000 yen a month, which she uses along with money earned from prostitution to enjoy her time in Kabukichō.

The primary method they use to receive money is PayPay. This platform is favored because it allows transactions via QR codes, eliminating the risk of revealing their identities. Additionally, it can be used by minors who do not have bank accounts, making it a convenient means for transferring money.

R-san, who was introduced as someone earning more, reportedly receives around 30,000 to 40,000 yen a month through social media.

“I update my social media every day with ‘I don’t have any money’ when I wake up. The key is to do it daily and add a touch of despair at the end, like a tear. It might be rare in Kabukichō, but I have a good relationship with my parents. They know I’m using PayPay to beg and have never said anything about it. Sometimes, I even receive money from them.” (R-san)

 

She mentioned that the most she earned in a month was around 60,000 yen. Since she has a home, she doesn’t incur accommodation costs, so the money she collects goes toward alcohol, cigarettes, and snacks.

 

“I remember the people who give me money often. They sometimes come to meet me in person and give me 3,000 yen in cash, which helps a lot. Occasionally, I get approached by strange people, but I report them to the police. It’s common to hear things like, ‘I’ll give you money if you let me touch you.’” (same source)

Since she shows her face on social media to collect money, it’s easy for acquaintances to recognize her. Especially in Kabukichō, the distinct hair colors and fashion choices of young people make them easily identifiable, even to ordinary people.

Are the “Tōyoko Kids” unable to use Instagram and X?

 

It seems that as the number of followers on X and Instagram increases, the amount of money received also tends to rise. However, recently, the accounts of the Tōyoko Kids are quickly being suspended, making it difficult for them to maintain their follower counts.

“X and Instagram quickly freeze accounts once they realize the owner is a Tōyoko Kid. As a result, many of them are using social media platforms like TikTok, where regulations are more lenient. Some of these girls have more followers than inexperienced influencers.” (a reporter from a national newspaper’s social section)

Knowing that the Tōyoko Kids have significant influence on social media, some adults approach them with ill intentions. It’s hoped that before being exploited by such adults, they can find a way to graduate from their current situation.