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Tokyo police arrest 3 over alleged Las Vegas sex work solicitation

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From the details provided, all parties seemed satisfied with the arrangement until the dispatched woman, who had a “history of engaging in sex work in countries such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia,” arrived in the U.S. and “two Asian men threatened they would kill her if she divulged any information to outsiders.” 

But of course, Ms. Haruka Funaki, the dating club president, is, like in the film “Casablanca,” shocked — “Shocked to find that (prostitution) is going on in here.”

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Sounds like somebody forgot to pay off the right officials...

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Haruka Funaki, the 37-year-old head of a dating club facilitating meetings between partners, and two others were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act by recruiting for employment harmful to public morals.

I guess she was tardy in her payments to the authorities or their partners in organized crime.

One of the moments coming to Japan that elicited a double take and taking a pic to send back home was a police koban right next to an establishment that had a menu listing services like "a f" 30,000 yen.

And they arrest people for solicitation.

6 ( +16 / -10 )

The only reason that this is making news is. Because the US authorities are involved and that has forced the Japanese side to take action.

There’s a bit of irony here as prostitution in Japan is largely shielded to westerners although there are exceptions.

For the natives there are plenty of red light areas to be found with frequent police oatrols.

-2 ( +17 / -19 )

Now that the yen is weak, my guess is the US is seeing a decline from actual tourists coming from Japan (though we still do not have data for 2023 so we can only speculate)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/786560/number-japanese-travelers-to-united-states/

So when a group of innocent girls are going to the US by themselves, it is sad that they are now easy targets to be accused of working in illegal activities.

I personally don't care about prostitutes, I don't see them as a lower class citizens, especially if they chose that career path on their own. My only wish is that the act of selling sex is done in a controlled environment where all parties are tested prior to engagement (and after) and use protection at all costs. The main harm done from this industry is not the act itself, but the human trafficking, forced labor, substance abuse, loan sharking, money laundering, etc.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

@SDCA

Thus is not an isolated case

There are more than a few Japanese females using their bodies to pay their way in the US, Europe and beyond.

https://www.ubergirls.me/amp/city/Dubai/japanese

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Apparently, what happens in Vegas does not, in fact, stay in Vegas.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Given how widespread and accepted prostitution is in Japan, I'm amazed any action was even taken.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

The Japanese "adult" economy including prostitution is bigger than its car industry.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

the woman went to local police saying two Asian men, who showed her to a hotel, threatened they would kill her if she divulged any information to outsiders, according to the police.

My guess is that the lucrative offer that was made (1.8 million yen ($12,200) guaranteed,) was not paid out.

Ms Funaki was not impressed with the deal and headed off to the local police station.

I wonder if the Las Vegas police actually caught up with the stand over men as this crime was in the U.S.?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

As gary says, presumably the escort has kicked off about this because the deal wasn't as promised. Non-payment and/or acts that were not consented to, group sex, filming etc.

Only a tiny of prostitution is high end with big payments like this. My impression is that it is common for people to use high-end prostitution like this to justify all sex work. Most sex work is low paid and much more exploitative.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

How shocking! Not!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Same scheme has been used by South Korea.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/accused-korean-madam-captured-ice-returned-korea

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

So that's how those two girls got there!

( I was in Vegas 2 months ago for a sales meeting )

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This kind of filth is part of the moral decay that’s gnawing at the heart of the country.

Nothing good comes out of this lark, divorces, blackmail, murder, drugs, you name it it’s gonna be in there.

All men who pay for sexual services should be named and shamed and have mugshots put up in public places so the general public know they cannot be trusted and they live an immoral lifestyle.

-15 ( +0 / -15 )

The woman had a history of this kind of work. She also seemingly went to Las Vegas willingly. Suddenly she went to the American police. Either she didn't get the money she was promised or when the men threatened her she became worried.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

In some countries, prostitution is legal, which is a better solution.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Better solution to what? The main problem in the article seems to be extortion and threats.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Regulated prostitution resolves many problems including health, STD, and pimps.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Wait......what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. What happened to the code?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This would be business as usual in Japan where brothels are near the Kobans, even if the prostitution is supposedly by illegal here.

It only became news, because the US Police got involved and they actually took action, not like their counterparts in Japan, that are Yakuza's puppies, and DO NOTHING against their protection tax forced on the bars, clubs or fuzoku establishments...

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Scums exist in every society.

May of these girls probably are just happy to travel abroad and be with someone whom they think of a tour partner or travel guide. I believe these women probably have NO IDEA as to what was about to happen to them.

Many young Japanese men and women would love to travel abroad and see the outside world first hand not from behind a TV or smart phone screen and these scammers know it, and so they target them as they become an Easy Prey.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Prostitution should be LEGAL, Tax it, get the extra income, keep it healthy and clean and everyone will be happy like in many other parts of the world.

NO police chase, NO pimps, No underground scums, and NO DERK alleys. you walk in get taken care of walk out just like it is happening NOW but LEGALLY.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@Mr. Kipling:

The Japanese "adult" economy including prostitution is bigger than its car industry.

I lean towards agreeing with you, but I'd like to take that opinion a step further with some truly investigative journalism into the actual numbers. It would be a fascinating story. I've been in Vegas, too, and can certainly attest to the obvious proliferation of the world's oldest profession, with an incredible variety of ethnic participants.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@falseflagsteve One must wonder if you are single? If not, your wife holds the purse strings and you turn your salary over to her. Ok I get it, that is "LEGAL" and called a marriage. In some place prostitution is perfectly legal and men can have more than one wife. But still, you think *"This kind of filth is part of the moral decay that’s gnawing at the heart of the country". If there is a WILL then there is a Way", and if there is a Supply of women and men who do this work then the Demand will never go away. Prostitution is older than baseball. Don't hate the players in the (P)game, just be a silent spectator, its all entertainment.*

This kind of filth is part of the moral decay that’s gnawing at the heart of the country.

Nothing good comes out of this lark, divorces, blackmail, murder, drugs, you name it it’s gonna be in there.

All men who pay for sexual services should be named and shamed and have mugshots put up in public places so the general public know they cannot be trusted and they live an immoral lifestyle.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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