The Hidden Life of a Kabukicho Teen: Prostitution and Host Club AddictionThe Hidden Life of a Kabukicho Teen: Prostitution and Host Club AddictionThe Hidden Life of a Kabukicho Teen: Prostitution and Host Club Addiction

“I fell in love instantly.”

“I live a completely reversed schedule. I sleep until the afternoon, head to Kabukichō in the evening, and stand in front of hotels until dawn, waiting for men to approach me.”

This is how A, a teenage vocational school student from the Hokuriku region, describes her life. Petite, with large, expressive eyes reminiscent of actress Mitsuki Takahata, A still retains a youthful innocence—but she works as a “tachinbo girl”, soliciting clients on the streets of Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku Kabukichō district.

The phenomenon of “tachinbo girls” has long been a social concern. During multiple crackdowns in September 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested 35 women in their 20s to 40s, caught soliciting near Okubo Park in Kabukichō, on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Law. Another four women in their 20s were arrested in July this year. Many of these women engage in prostitution to pay off debts incurred at host clubs.

A herself fell into the host club scene.

“The reason I got hooked on hosts was the drama ‘Tomorrow, I’ll Be Someone’s Girlfriend’—based on a manga about hosts and compensated dating. Watching it made me curious and want to try it.

I went to a host club in Kabukichō alone, and the very handsome host who attended me—I instantly liked him. Since then, I’ve been going about once or twice a week to the club where my favorite host works. I usually spend over 50,000 yen each visit.”

For A, a teenage student living alone in Tokyo, spending over 50,000 yen at a time is a heavy financial burden. She also has to pay extra fees to request her favorite host. As her host club expenses mounted, she began to emulate the women she saw in Kabukichō, starting to work as a “tachinbo girl” herself.

“Okubo Park is heavily patrolled, so I stand in front of love hotels instead. I see about three men a day. For full services, I earn about 20,000 yen per encounter. I treat it purely as work to earn money, so I honestly don’t feel anything—I just do it matter-of-factly. Luckily, I’ve never had a dangerous experience.”

“We’ve had a few physical encounters.”

She says her relationship with her favorite host is complicated.

“During after-hours dates (afters) when we would drink heavily, I ended up having a physical relationship with him a few times. But I know he isn’t truly interested in me. I also know that some of my friends have had relations with him.

Hearing that from my friends was really unpleasant. I still want to believe it’s not true. There’s a community we call the ‘Standing Girls’ Club,’ where women I became close to at work gather, and I often vent my frustrations there.”

A feels little guilt. She intends to continue working as a standing girl if it allows her to see her favorite host.

Crime journalist and former Kanagawa Prefectural Police officer Taihei Ogawa explains the broader context of Kabukicho:

“Prostitution is, of course, illegal, and A is not blameless. But the root problem lies in the nightlife industry that targets women. Some malicious hosts deliberately provoke jealousy, creating competition among multiple women for their attention. They sometimes engage in physical relations during after-hours dates, making female clients feel special.

Women who like a host spend more money to stand out among other clients, which naturally increases financial pressure. If they want to earn money quickly, turning to prostitution can seem like an inevitable choice. While the actions of standing girls cannot be condoned, they also have a victimized side.”

Authorities are strengthening crackdowns not only on standing girls but also on predatory hosts and scouts.