The “tachinbo”‘ standing around Okubo Park in Kabukicho, Tokyo have been often brought up as a problem, and despite repeated police and administrative measures, they haven’t disappeared.
The police have only been able to catch them red-handed when they find the women informing customers of their conditions. The girls have therefore taken measures to avoid arrest by making the customers state their terms and conditions, or by making it look like they were meeting up with a friend.
In response, the police arrested a 28-year-old woman on April 24 for the first time on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Law for past customer-waiting behavior.
When the hookers learnt that she had been arrested for past customer-waiting behavior, their numbers dropped for a few days afterwards, but soon returned. They are now taking measures against the police by expanding their waiting area. After all, if there are people are looking, they can make money.
The women also share information about police undercover operations on social media, and act accordingly. The police and administration also increase their patrols, but they focus on the Okubo Park area, so there is no problem if they aran’t in that area.
The people who enjoy the eye candy have also increased. They seem to enjoy drinking alcohol while chatting and laughing, saying things like that girl is cute, with a can of beer or shochu bought at a convenience store in their hand.
They are a nuisance not only to the hookers but also to local residents, and there are often problems between the women and the onlookers who made a fuss about covert filming.
There is an endless amount of spectators in Okubo Park, where only regular women wait for customers. Many of these spectators include foreigners, who can also be seen checking out the women up.
Another man said: “It’s like a sex shop that is impossible these days. I think about it as the old-fashioned brothel where we could nominate a girl while looking directly at her face. It’s not easy to find a system like this, so even if I don’t wanna buy, I just come and have a look. It’s like Tobita Shinchi.”
The number of “tachinbo”‘ has been reduced after several arrests, but soon returned. The cat-and-mouse game is likely to continue for some time.
