53-Year-Old Man Arrested for Soliciting High School Girl at Okubo Park

“I am 16 years old.”

When asked her age by the man, the girl reportedly answered honestly.

 

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Security Division October Oct. 18, A company employee, Mitsuhiro Kodama, a resident of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Child Prostitution and Pornography Law. He allegedly approached a 16-year-old female high school student, Ms. A, in the vicinity of Okubo Park in Shinjuku City, and engaged in lewd acts with her at a nearby hotel.

“A-san became obsessed with men’s underground idols and, in order to earn money to spend on her hobby, started engaging in papa-katsu (sugar dating). She was reportedly advised by a man she met on social media that many women doing papa-katsu stand around Okubo Park. Around September of this year, A-san began standing near Okubo Park and started engaging in relationships with a variety of men.

She reportedly stood about three times a week, averaging three men per day, and earned around 700,000 yen per month. Most of the money she earned through prostitution was spent on her oshi-katsu (supporting her favorite idols). In her statement to the police, she confessed that when asked her age by a man who approached her, she honestly replied, ‘I’m 16 years old.'” (National newspaper social section reporter)

 

Exploiting the psychology of fans.

 

Kodama allegedly approached A-san on the afternoon of October 15. He handed her 20,000 yen, and they went to a hotel in Kabukicho. Police officers who were patrolling the Okubo Park area to combat street prostitution spotted the two and questioned them after they exited the hotel. This led to the discovery of the incident and Kodama’s arrest.

A photographer from this magazine captured Kodama entering the police station right after his arrest. He sat in the back of the transport vehicle, staring blankly ahead. His explanation was surprising.

“While A-san has stated that she honestly answered when asked her age, Kodama denies part of the crime, claiming: ‘It is true that I paid 20,000 yen for prostitution, but I didn’t know she was under 18,'” (same source).

In the Kabukicho area, incidents of sexual abuse involving underage girls continue to occur without end.

“One of the contributing factors is the presence of illegal operations in men’s underground idol groups and host clubs. They demand exorbitant payments for alcohol and oshi-katsu (supporting idols) items far beyond the girls’ ability to pay. Abusing fan psychology, they pressure them with statements like, ‘If you don’t order, we won’t be able to meet anymore.’ When the girls can’t afford it, they are saddled with large ‘accounts receivable’ debts, like tabs. These girls, in desperation, end up turning to papa-katsu or prostitution to cover these debts,” (another social section reporter).

As for the street prostitution activities around Okubo Park, this is the first time a male customer has been arrested on charges of purchasing sex. However, no matter how many prostitution cases are cracked down on, it is unlikely to be a fundamental solution. The police are continuing their investigations with the aim of eradicating illegal operations by men’s underground idol groups and host clubs.