The Japanese Catholic Church in the front line against sexual exploitation

In the country, more and more women are forced into prostitution in clubs because of the high level of debt. In this context, the Catholic Church is on the front line together with some organisations such as Nippon Kakekomidera. The founder of the association, Hidemori Gen: "Clubs are a business that is no different from human trafficking. They do not sell champagne: they sell women's bodies'.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - Between January and September 2023, Japanese police took 80 women into custody in Tokyo who were engaged in prostitution, aged between 20 and 46: a considerable increase compared to the 51 arrests made in the whole of 2022.

The The Kabukicho nightlife district in the capital is the area where police have identified the growing number of women forced to sell their bodies.

Most are submerged in debt and are “employed” in clubs offering adult entertainment. Often behind these places there are criminal networks that attract and trap young women in debt. These places in particular in Tokyo and Osaka have increased post-Covid, exploiting a gap in Japanese legislation: the act of “selling sex” is not prohibited.

Only the act of promoting and "selling sex" in public places is, as the legislation is intended to maintain apparent public order and prevent public nuisance related to solicitation.

The Catholic Church associations are trying to fill these gaps. On the front line for years, right in Kabukichō, there is Hidemori Gen who manages a reception center for sexually exploited women and who in recent months has received 300 people who showed up at her centre.

It is mainly the parents of these girls who would like to remove them from the clubs, but who are too ashamed to talk to friends and the police have their hands tied due to the current legislation: "We are talking about women with a promising future who remain trapped", said Gen, 67, founder of Nippon Kakekomidera (“Japanese temple and shelter”), a non-profit organization that has been helping troubled and sexually exploited young women in the neighborhood since 2012.

“The clubs work with a business model that it is no different than human trafficking. They don't sell champagne: they sell women's bodies."

In this context, the Catholic Church in Japan, counting on its vast network of charitable groups and initiatives, is one of the few institutions that is present to support these women who find themselves enslaved by prostitution.

Various groups linked to the Catholic Church have for years been at the forefront in managing safe homes for these girls who want to leave prostitution behind. Within these centers, women receive not only temporary housing but also legal advice, rehabilitation programs, vocational training and spiritual support to restart their lives. Among the most active organizations are Caritas Japan and Talitha Kum Japan.