In Japan, there is a special industry that is breathtakingly impressive – the custom industry. Despite the Japanese government's ban on sex trafficking, the industry remains entrenched and large. From ancient times to the present, the custom industry has occupied a place in Japanese society with its complex historical and social background. What is it that makes this industry thrive despite the prohibition of the law?
The history of the custom industry in Japan can be traced back to the Nara period, or even earlier. Back then, there were a number of women who specialized in this profession and were active at all levels of society, and they quickly won the favor of Japanese men. By the Nara period, the size and coverage of the industry had been considerable. During the Muromachi period, the Japanese government not only openly allowed the existence of these customs practitioners, but even gave them a certain degree of formal recognition and support.
The government officials at the time, seeing it in their eyes and anxious about it, realized that if the industry was not regulated, it could bring about social instability. Instead of cracking down on the industry, the government began to set up dedicated brothel districts.
These so-called "public prostitution" have the tacit approval and support of the government, while the illegal "private prostitution" is in a more gray area. This system of public prostitution continued until the Meiji Restoration.
By the Meiji period, the Japanese government was trying to reform the old customs industry to meet the requirements of modernization. They began to implement a policy of prohibiting the sex trade, hoping to purify the social atmosphere.
Around 1900, the government issued a strict ban in an attempt to ban the industry altogether. This measure backfired and provoked a widespread social backlash. Practitioners and property owners have written a petition urging the government to revoke the ban. In the face of strong opposition from the population, the government had to adopt a tolerant attitude.
After World War II, Japan's customs industry underwent another major change. After the defeat of the war, the U.S. military occupied Japan, and in order to protect Japanese women from abuse, the Japanese government had to set up the "Special Comfort Facility Association" to serve the U.S. military. During this period, the scale of the custom industry expanded again, and according to statistics, there were as many as 70,000 customs practitioners serving the U.S. military at that time.
The presence of US troops has not made the situation any better. Due to the health problems of many practitioners, quite a few U.S. soldiers contracted venereal diseases. This phenomenon aroused a high degree of dissatisfaction among the US military, and forced the Japanese government to reorganize the customs industry. The U.S. side demands that Japan completely eliminate the existence of this industry.
In response to the request of the United States, the Japanese government has once again strengthened the regulation and management of the custom industry, trying to legalize it in order to better control and supervise it. This series of actions shows that although the customs industry is facing various pressures and challenges on the surface, in practice, the government's attitude is not completely exclusionary, but a kind of marginal tolerance.
In the 21st century, the Japanese custom industry has continued to exist and develop in the gray area of the law, forming a huge economic industry. Due to its long history and deep-rooted social and cultural roots, various forms of genre such as erotic massage and erotic film and television production are still widespread, despite strict legal prohibitions.
The widespread existence of the custom industry not only reflects the huge demand of the market, but also exposes some deep-seated problems in Japanese society, such as the traditional perception of gender roles and the search for psychological solace due to high social pressure.
In fact, the existence of the custom industry also has a certain positive impact on Japanese society. For example, it provides employment opportunities for a large number of women, especially those who may not be able to find work in other industries.
The legalisation of the custom industry has also allowed the government to benefit from tax revenues while regulating the health and safety of the industry more effectively.
Despite this, the custom industry remains a controversial topic. Many have criticized it for violating women's human rights and promoting gender inequality. There are also concerns that even under strict legal frameworks, the illegal and shady sex trade may still be lurking in the industry, posing great risks to practitioners.
Looking back at the history of the development of the Japanese custom industry, we can see how the industry has found a balance between legal prohibitions and social needs, and has gradually grown and developed in the process.
The complexity of the Japanese customs industry is not only a legal and moral challenge, but also a reflection of the deep-seated characteristics of Japanese society and culture.
The industry will continue to be a focal point for ethical and legal battles in Japanese society. In the face of such a long-established and deep-rooted industry, we can't help but ask: Is there really a way to completely eradicate it, or should we find a more humane and effective way of management? These questions are still worth pondering.