How the Arrests Came About
On July 14, 2020, the Juvenile Development Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and a police station in Taito Ward arrested Daisuke Kimura (38) and Ken Tamura (31), who had been running "JK business" establishments, on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act (the prohibition on causing a person to engage in obscene acts) and the Employment Security Act.
According to the investigation, the two ran establishments in the Akihabara and Ueno areas offering services billed as "walks," "co-sleeping," and "massage" provided by high school girls. During these encounters, customers were reportedly steered toward sexual services.
What Is a "JK Business"?
"JK business" is a slang term for restaurants, reflexology shops, and similar establishments where high school girls in uniform serve customers; some clearly provide sexual services. In 2015, Tokyo amended the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on the Sound Upbringing of Youth to prohibit those under 18 from working in JK businesses, but disguises by operators have grown more sophisticated, and eradication remains difficult.
The Nature of the Harm
At the two arrested men's establishments, it emerged that some of the "cast" members on the roster were 16- and 17-year-old high school students. They had been recruited with offers of "high-paying part-time work," and the operators reportedly used a method of gradually steering them toward more expensive, more sexual services.
One of the minors who was harmed filed a criminal complaint with police through a guardian, which led to this crackdown.
Enforcement Across the Country
According to National Police Agency statistics, the number of JK-business-related crackdowns has been trending downward since a peak in 2016, but it has been rising again since 2019. The main cause is cited as the growing anonymity and sophistication of online solicitation.
Similar business types have been confirmed not only in Tokyo but also in Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and elsewhere, prompting calls for stronger nationwide countermeasures.
Challenges Ahead
Experts note: "To protect minors who are targets of sexual exploitation, we need not only reactive investigations that begin only after a criminal complaint is filed, but also proactive approaches such as online patrols and better consultation services."
This article was compiled based on publicly available information and interviews with investigators.