Fewer People Accused in Japan over Host Clubs in 2025

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police took action against 143 people over malicious practices involving “host clubs,” where male companions entertain women, in 2025, a decrease of 64 from the previous year, the National Police Agency said Thursday. The number of administrative penalties imposed on such clubs, including the revocation of business licenses, fell by 456 to 251. Consultations with police over billing disputes dropped by 407 to 2,369 cases. The decreases come after a law was revised last year to address such practices, including having customers become heavily indebted to host clubs and coercing them into prostitution to repay the tab. The revised law bans sales tactics exploiting romantic feelings, false explanations of charges, and coercion of women into sex industry work. The 143 people against whom the police took action included 54 hosts. In November, a host was arrested by Fukuoka prefectural police on suspicion of forcing prostitution to secure payment. About 1,100 host clubs reportedly operate across the country. Police inspected 1,083 clubs in 2025 and issued 251 administrative penalties, including five license revocations and eight business suspensions, for illicit collections of charges and street solicitation. “Abuses continue, and the situation is anything but healthy,” an NPA official said. “We’ll intensify crackdowns, including against law-evasive business models.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]