Industry News — Crime, Regulation & Trends

2025 Trends in Adult-Entertainment Crime and the Outlook for 2026: Organization and Internationalization Accelerate News

2025 Trends in Adult-Entertainment Crime and the Outlook for 2026: Organization and Internationalization Accelerate

The National Police Agency released a report summarizing 2025 trends in adult-entertainment-related crime and its outlook for 2026. While the move toward organized crime and internationalization is accelerating, legislative measures such as the AV law and ordinance revisions are achieving certain results. With a new digital-regulation law slated to take effect in 2026, the year is expected to be a further turning point.

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Toward Stronger Exclusion of Antisocial Forces From the Adult-Entertainment Industry; Industry Association Announces Establishment of a 'Third-Party Review Body News

Toward Stronger Exclusion of Antisocial Forces From the Adult-Entertainment Industry; Industry Association Announces Establishment of a 'Third-Party Review Body

On the 15th, a coalition of adult-entertainment industry associations announced the establishment of a third-party review body to prevent organized-crime groups and quasi-organized-crime groups (hangure) from entering or becoming involved in the industry. The body will review the ties of member outlets' operators and associates to antisocial forces and will operate a system for granting and revoking a certification mark.

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Organizations Funneling Women Into Sex Work Around Host Clubs Raided; 35 Arrested in Tokyo and Osaka News

Organizations Funneling Women Into Sex Work Around Host Clubs Raided; 35 Arrested in Tokyo and Osaka

On the 10th, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a total of 35 members of organizations that used host-club tab debts to funnel women into the sex trade, on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Act and other laws. For the first time, a structure in which host clubs and adult-entertainment establishments 'conspired' to exploit women was built into a case.

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Nationwide Coordinated Investigation Into Cases of Harm to Minors; Simultaneous Operation Across 47 Prefectures Protects More Than 50 Victims News

Nationwide Coordinated Investigation Into Cases of Harm to Minors; Simultaneous Operation Across 47 Prefectures Protects More Than 50 Victims

Under the direction of the National Police Agency, police in all 47 prefectures simultaneously carried out searches and protective operations targeting the sexual exploitation of minors. In an intensive 48-hour operation, more than 50 underage victims were taken into protection, and more than 100 people involved were arrested or referred to prosecutors.

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Tokyo Substantially Revises Ordinance Regulating Adult-Entertainment Special Businesses; First-Ever Rules on Online Customer Acquisition News

Tokyo Substantially Revises Ordinance Regulating Adult-Entertainment Special Businesses; First-Ever Rules on Online Customer Acquisition

On the 16th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly revised its ordinance on adult-entertainment special businesses, introducing for the first time rules on customer acquisition using the internet and social media. The revision bans online advertising and customer acquisition conducted without notification and strengthens the authority to impose administrative sanctions on violators. It takes effect in September.

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Three Years After the AV Law Took Effect: Sharp Rise in Damage Reports, and Structural Change in the Industry News

Three Years After the AV Law Took Effect: Sharp Rise in Damage Reports, and Structural Change in the Industry

Three years after the Act on Preventing and Remedying Harm to Adult-Video Performers took effect, the Consumer Affairs Agency released an assessment report. The number of damage reports rose more than fivefold compared with before the law, confirming a certain deterrent effect. At the same time, the offshore relocation of illegal operators and new 'loopholes' have emerged as challenges going forward.

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Operator of Major Adult-Entertainment Chain Arrested for Tax Evasion; Over 300 Million Yen in Concealed Income Over Five Years News

Operator of Major Adult-Entertainment Chain Arrested for Tax Evasion; Over 300 Million Yen in Concealed Income Over Five Years

On the 14th, the National Tax Agency and police authorities arrested the operator of an adult-entertainment chain with several outlets in Tokyo on suspicion of violating the Corporation Tax Act (tax evasion). The concealed income over five years is said to total more than 300 million yen, drawing attention as a large-scale tax-evasion case in the adult-entertainment industry.

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