Thai Girl, 12, Freed From Parlor Allowing Illegal Practices

Had a 12-year-old girl perform sexual massages

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Safety Division announced on November 6 that they had arrested Masayuki Hosono (51), the manager of the massage parlor “Relax Time” in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, and an employee, Homjan Gitayaporn (32), on suspicion of violating labor standards regulations (minimum age) for employing a 12-year-old girl of Thai nationality.

The suspects’ admission or denial of the charges has not been clarified. According to the police, the girl is from northern Thailand and lived with her younger sister and grandparents. She came to Japan with her mother in late June on a short-term stay visa. Upon arriving at the massage parlor, her mother disappeared the next day, and she was allegedly forced to provide sexual services to customers. The girl could not speak Japanese and was staying in the kitchen of the establishment.

“On the day she arrived in Japan, the girl was taught by her mother how to perform sexual services at a massage parlor. In about a month, she served around 60 customers and made approximately 630,000 yen. It is said that all of the girl’s earnings were received by suspect Hosono, who transferred half to an account in the name of an associate of the mother. Even after quitting the shop in August, she continued to perform sexual massages in other prefectures through her mother’s introduction,” reported a national social affairs journalist.

In September, the girl sought help and was taken into protective custody by the Tokyo Immigration Bureau. “I had no choice but to endure it for the sake of my family’s livelihood. I want to return to Thailand and go to middle school,” she reportedly said. Meanwhile, her mother is involved in a separate prostitution case in Taiwan and is being held by local police. Arrangements are being made to extradite her to Thailand.

When visiting the store where the girl was made to work, it was located on the seventh floor of an eight-story multi-tenant building, about a one-minute walk from Yushima Station on the Chiyoda subway line. The store’s website includes the address and phone number, and there is a sign on the building’s mailbox that reads “Relaxation Time.” In the room believed to have been used for sexual massages as listed on the website, there was a single chair and a single-size mattress, and it is said that the girl was made to live in this room.

Clearly, a girl who seems to be a middle school student is out late at night

Building personnel reported that a number of unidentified men often came and went during the night.

“Around 7 PM, I would occasionally see men entering the building while glancing around. They clearly looked like outsiders. Since the building does not have an auto-lock, I didn’t pay much attention, but after seeing the news, I realized there was a massage shop. There is also traffic from Asian women. They are easily identifiable by their light clothing and sandal-like footwear.”

According to a clerk at a nearby convenience store, a person believed to be the rescued girl occasionally came in lightly dressed.

“I’m surprised because the building where the incident occurred is nearby. Between around 11 pm and 3 am, there was clearly an Asian girl who looked like a middle school student buying food, so it might be her. There are many Asian people in Yushima, so I didn’t pay much attention, but it’s not a time for a 12-year-old to be out. I think it’s really a tragic incident.”

When searching for the store’s address, multiple store names such as “Thai Home Massage” and “Thai Tone Spa” appear in addition to “Relax Time.” Although the service content is generally the same for each store, all of them seem to have offered a massage called “Japp Kasai.”

According to an adult entertainment writer familiar with Asian massage parlors, it is likely that illegal activities were taking place at the store.

“Jap Kasai refers to a massage of the genital area, originally a type of traditional Thai massage aimed at improving blood flow and enhancing male function. However, for those who frequent Asian-style massage parlors, it is used as a term for illegal activities. It’s like a euphemism for providing sexual massages.

On the website, there was a photo of what appeared to be a 12-year-old girl. On a forum for the sex industry, there were posts saying, ‘X (the pseudonym of a person who seems like a girl) provides good service,’ ‘X can definitely do it,’ and ‘If you want someone young, choose X.’ Thinking about the hell the girl experienced, it makes my chest hurt.”

If the customer requests it, anything can be done

There is an Asian community around Yushima, and many massage parlors in the area are run by Thai and Filipino people. When a reporter called a place in Yushima claiming to offer “Japanese Kasai” massage, perhaps due to the incident, the responses were cold everywhere.

“We’re not doing that now. You can’t make a reservation. We can’t even do regular massages, sorry.” (Store A)

“We don’t have any young staff, and we’re fully booked today. Please try again.” (Store B)

Regarding the response of these massage parlors, a previously mentioned adult entertainment writer speculates that it might be due to the incident’s impact.

“Asian massage parlors often operate among acquaintances, like calling in relatives from abroad to join those already in the country, unlike men’s esthetic salons run by Japanese practitioners. It’s more of a community with a relaxed atmosphere. Of course, many operate properly, but some are ‘lenient’ regarding illegal activities and will provide anything the client requests.

When one of these establishments is busted, they’re cautious to avoid a domino effect of busts within their community network. Some workers may have expired visas, making them even more afraid of being raided.”

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating, keeping in mind the possibility of human trafficking cases aimed at sexual exploitation. The youngest victim of human trafficking raided by the Metropolitan Police is reportedly 12 years old. This incident might have occurred precisely because it’s a kind of urban darkness in the form of Asian massage parlors.