Latest news with #hostclubs
CNN
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Crackdown in Japan's red-light district
With throbbing lights and giant photos of well-groomed men, Japan's host clubs are hard to miss. These bars, where women pay to drink and flirt with men, are a cornerstone of the country's red-light districts. But a sweeping new law aims to rein in their darker side, following reported cases of emotional manipulation and exploitation. CNN's Hanako Montgomery follows up on her report last year of women driven into debt – and even sex work – by their host club obsessions.
CNN
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Crackdown in Japan's red-light district
With throbbing lights and giant photos of well-groomed men, Japan's host clubs are hard to miss. These bars, where women pay to drink and flirt with men, are a cornerstone of the country's red-light districts. But a sweeping new law aims to rein in their darker side, following reported cases of emotional manipulation and exploitation. CNN's Hanako Montgomery follows up on her report last year of women driven into debt – and even sex work – by their host club obsessions.
Bloomberg
21-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
The Global Response to HIV/AIDS Is in Crisis
UNAIDS is reeling from a 50% funding cut, AI is making it easier for startup founders to scale without hiring, and Japan's host clubs are under fire. By Save Welcome to the weekend! The Economist just put out its list of the most livable cities, and one country's capital took the top slot with perfect or near-perfect marks in health care, education and culture. Which city is it? Find out with this week's Pointed quiz.
South China Morning Post
16-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Japan's host clubs face reform as new law targeting predatory practices bites
In Japan 's shadowy nightlife districts, affection can come at a steep price. For thousands of women, a night of flirtation with a well-dressed host has turned into financial ruin and, in some cases, coerced sex work. Now, the Japanese government is stepping in with a revised law aimed at ending the industry's most predatory tactics. The revision to the Entertainment Business Law, which comes into effect on June 28, applies to both host and hostess clubs. However, it appears to target host clubs specifically, after recent reports of female customers being pressured into prostitution or acting in adult videos to repay their debt from overspending at these clubs. Last year, police received 2,776 host club-related complaints nationwide, with many involving women being forced into sex work to cover unpaid bills, The Japan Times newspaper reported. Under the new rules, hosts cannot emotionally manipulate customers into spending – a common tactic – by using lines like 'if you don't order, you won't be able to see me' or 'I'll get demoted if I don't increase my sales, so buy that bottle of champagne', according to media website SoraNews24. Hosts perform the so-called champagne call at the Shangrila Host Club in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo: Rob Gilhooly It will also be illegal for clubs to falsely advertise – by luring customers with cheap drinks only to charge exorbitant fees – or bill for unordered food and drinks. A local public safety commission will instruct any club found violating these rules to stop and, if it fails to do so, it may lose its business license, according to Kyodo news agency.
