Raids on Chinese-Run Massage Parlors Expose Nishikawaguchi’s Undying Underground Sex Industry
The illegal sex establishments that were supposed to have disappeared
In December 2024, the “Sayuri” esthetic salon near the east exit of Nishikawaguchi Station was raided. The Chinese owner and two female employees were arrested on suspicion of violating the Entertainment Business Control Law by operating a sex establishment in a prohibited area. The establishment had advertised itself as a relaxation massage service and used its website to attract customers. From October to December 7, it generated approximately 7.5 million yen in revenue.
This raid revealed that illegal sex establishments had not disappeared from Nishikawaguchi. Despite efforts to rebuild the area from its past as a hotspot for illegal sex businesses, new Chinese-run illegal establishments had emerged. This incident demonstrates that even with enhanced enforcement and stricter regulations, the area’s purification is not easily achieved.
Nishikawaguchi was once known as the holy land for NK-style (a term referring to sex establishments that provided intercourse services), with over 200 illegal real salon businesses operating in the area. The services offered, such as young, attractive women providing intercourse for prices around 8,000 yen for 30 minutes or 10,000 yen for 40 minutes, made Nishikawaguchi a surprisingly affordable dreamlike red-light district for customers. During its peak, the area around the station was filled with real salons, and the stores’ flashy exteriors in bright colors like red, green, yellow, and pink created a chaotic scene.
However, local residents’ concerns about the deteriorating environment led to stricter enforcement over time. In 2004, Nishikawaguchi was designated as a “Key Area for the Purification of Sex Industry Environments” by the Saitama Prefectural Police, and active measures were taken against illegal businesses. A large-scale crackdown in 2005 nearly wiped out NK-style establishments, and by early 2007, most of them had gone out of business.
