Even Ikebukuro’s Bustling West Ichibangai Lies Empty (‘21) How COVID-19 Changed the Distance Between Clients and the Sex Industry What increased during the pandemic were the so-called rude customers, who seemed to have nothing to lose. These aggressive clients demanded discounts without hesitation, reasoning that “if you’re open during times like this, it should be cheaper.” They would take the short course without conversing and insist on extra services, saying, “I’m paying, so give me everything.” Some clients even developed real feelings for the workers, or became dangerous enough to be banned from the store. Demanding full sexual services was common, and most of these clients were either single or divorced. In response, the women—who might usually let such behavior slide—began handing out business cards to these clients to try to increase future bookings. Conversely, the clientele that disappeared were the “well-mannered, financially stable types.” These were men who had families, stable jobs, and occasionally wanted to enjoy themselves. To protect their children and spouses from infection, they stopped visiting altogether. Such clients typically communicated properly, played respectfully, and did not engage in prohibited or violent acts. In short, the good clients vanished. The pandemic dramatically altered the distance between individual clients and the sex industry. Some men became obsessed with delivery health services. With life plans disrupted and goals lost due to COVID-19, some clients spiraled into despair and frequented these services excessively. On the other hand, many clients stopped visiting entirely. With income and employment stability uncertain, many could no longer afford leisure in the sex industry. The pandemic eliminated habits of frequenting such services, and for some men, these habits never returned. The COVID-19 crisis dealt a severe blow to the sex industry as a whole. In Tokyo, it became common for long-established, small storefront health services to shift to delivery health. In narrow spaces, following the widely promoted avoid the three Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings) guidance was difficult, and clients who wanted to avoid close contact stopped visiting. In store-based establishments, receptionists and other customers meant unavoidable contact with multiple people. Delivery health, on the other hand, allowed clients to enjoy services with minimal contact—one-on-one with the worker. The privacy of this approach also made delivery health appealing, causing some clients from storefront establishments to shift to delivery services. During the state of emergency, as stay-at-home orders and remote work became widespread, many people spent long hours at home, increasing demand for delivery health services that could be enjoyed without leaving home. Some men even redirected funds they would have spent on dining or travel to delivery health services. Some stores saw increased revenue despite the pandemic. In Osaka, business travelers sometimes chose delivery health over visiting izakayas, since restaurants were required to close early, often by 8 p.m. This led to more men calling delivery health workers as an alternative.