More Applicants but Falling Pay Recruiter Reveals the Reality of Overseas Sex Work Industry

The shift that began last year

Overseas prostitution for work has been making headlines since last year. Referred to as gigs, stories spread about being able to earn large sums in just a few days to a few weeks, along with unverified rumors like “Dubai gigs” involving acts such as sex with goats, making the phenomenon widely known to the public.

“I’ve heard that immigration checks for young Japanese women have become stricter because of prostitution concerns. The actual number of people traveling for that purpose is quite small, but even regular tourists are being thoroughly questioned about their reasons for entry, and some are reportedly subjected to intense questioning,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.

Last spring, the media widely reported on harsh experiences in overseas sex work, such as the so-called “Dubai gigs.” A year later, there has apparently been a certain change in overseas prostitution work. A man who previously worked as a recruiter introducing Japanese women to overseas jobs and is still familiar with the situation explains:

“At the time, I was introducing women to delivery-style services connected to Malaysian DCs (dating clubs). There were courses like 60 minutes for 40,000 yen, 180 minutes for 75,000 yen, and 10 hours for 110,000 yen, where the service would take place in a hotel room. There were also options where you’d enjoy drinks or a meal first before going to a hotel—those were 6 hours for 90,000 yen and 12 hours for 140,000 yen. However, since I was only recruiting, the distinctions between courses on-site seemed somewhat vague.

As a basic condition, being able to drink alcohol is the top priority. It starts like light entertainment—drinking together and having fun—and if the client likes you, you move to a private room. It’s like a mix of a hostess club and adult services in Japan. The flow is mostly the same in other countries as well,” (all quotes below are from the former recruiter).

Another common form of overseas sex work is the brothel-style setup, where women stay in rooms and serve visiting clients. However, these are often located in areas with poorer security, and the price per client tends to be lower.

There were too many applicants

As for the conditions recruiters look for in women, “Japanese-looking women with a more amateur, natural vibe are preferred.”

The reason Japanese women are favored is that they have a certain level of hospitality skills and, unlike local women engaged in prostitution, are seen as more refined. In many countries, women involved in prostitution tend to dress in revealing clothing that clearly shows their body lines, making them easily recognizable even when standing on the street. In contrast, Japanese women often dress and style their hair like ordinary people, which appears fresh overseas and is well received. However, recently, there have been too many applicants for overseas work, and the rates have gone down.

“In the past, it seems you could reliably earn over 1.2 to 1.3 million yen in about 10 days, but now it feels like that’s dropped by around 20–30%. Recently, many people want to go abroad because ‘if you’re going to do this kind of work, it’s better to go overseas where the pay is higher.’

There are a lot of women saying things like, ‘If I’m just going to sit around without getting clients in Japan, I’d rather go overseas where I can earn for sure,’ or ‘Going to some unfamiliar distant prefecture for work is basically the same as going to an unfamiliar country.’”

In Japan’s domestic sex industry, only a small number of people can earn more than 100,000 yen a day. Compared to that, the working conditions in Malaysia can still be considered favorable. To differentiate from Japan’s industry and secure women for higher-paying clients, there are minimum guarantees provided in addition to travel expenses, food, and accommodation.

Acts far more extreme than anything seen domestically

However, if the returns are high, the risks must be as well. Are there really acts beyond imagination, such as those rumored in the media involving animals? This recruiter was skeptical about such claims.

“I was in charge of Malaysia, and in Southeast Asia, you don’t hear much about anything involving animals. I have heard stories like being made to lick the genitals of a male pig kept as livestock. But when it comes to actual sexual acts with animals, I’ve never heard of it myself, so I can’t say whether it’s true or not.”

On the other hand, he revealed that there are extreme acts that are rarely seen in Japan.

“What happens frequently is sex under the influence of drugs. Not only are drugs easy to obtain, but in many cases, the clients themselves are the ones dealing them, so it’s almost treated as part of the standard setup. Even if the women refuse, since they are overseas, they may not be able to say no and end up becoming dependent. Some people are said to remain addicted even after returning to Japan.”

“Working overseas” is becoming increasingly common. It is true that there are higher-paying opportunities compared to Japan. However, since this often involves prostitution in areas with significantly worse public safety, there is a real risk of becoming involved in crime—and if something does happen, there may be no way to escape.

Just last December, a Chinese female influencer who had traveled to Cambodia after being promised a high-paying job was found on the street in a severely deteriorated condition. She was reportedly mentally unstable, and tests showed positive results for multiple drugs.

In her case, being found alive might have been fortunate. Overseas, if someone disappears without a trace, it is far more likely that no one will ever notice.

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