Business Changes in Okinawa For the World's Oldest Profession

Hard to believe but prostitution is illegal in Japan. But, as it was explained to me once by an elder Japanese gentleman, "Yes, prostitution is illegal, but if people fall in love for 15 minutes, there's no law against that!"

Come to think of it, that makes sense. Why prostitution - which is sex between two consenting adults - is illegal - is beyond me. Victimless crimes should be wiped from the books.

But off my soapbox for now...

Check this from Tokyo Reporter. It is a story of how the girls are hitting the streets in Okinawa as the US military moves.

With the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan City on the island of Okinawa factoring in the recently held gubernatorial election, weekly tabloid Shukan Jitsuwa (Dec. 9) updates its readership on any impact that may be in store for its surrounding red-light district. During the run-up to the vote, held on Nov. 28, in which Okinawan Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, 71, narrowly defeated 58-year-old former Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha to retain his title, the magazine explains that the ongoing crackdown on shops supplying sleaze in Ginowan's Maebara entertainment area was an issue that lurked behind the scenes. For a little background, along with the Tobita Shinchi brothel quarter in Osaka, the Maebara red-light district is known for adult-oriented clubs that specialize in quickies and feature attractive prices. Since spring, police have been cracking down on establishments in the area, also referred to as "Shinmachi." Many of the shops had been operating on an underground basis.