Attractive Presentation
Target: Demography
by Manae
Introduction
Not every girl is targeted in Kabuki-cho. Girls that can contribute to the industry are chosen, targeted, and then approached by scouts. Exploring the demography of targets will reveal the effective tactic of bringing prosperity to businesses in Kabuki-cho.
Job Advertisement for Baby Boo, pink salon, in Kabuki-cho
Age
When scouts approach targets, they ask their age. This is a common question asked to targets to determine if the target is suitable for the offered work. This fieldnote on the left describes a scenario of the observer being approached.
Individuals under the age of 18 are prohibitted to work in an establishment based on the Entertainment Establishments Control Law (性風俗特殊営æ¥æ³•) in Japan. One of the scouts’ most important responsibilities is to be careful of the targets’ age so that the business does not get exposed for their underage workers. Hence, targeted girls were 20 years old to younger 30s, which looked like university students to younger adults.
Job Advertisement for Shinkaigyo, soap land, in Kabuki—cho
Most job advertisements on recruitment sites had qualifications of 20 years old to 30 years old.
Ethnicity
Scouts target Japanese girls. Foreigners, non-Japanese, were not once targeted during observation.
Possible reasons of this fact are listed below:
Language Barrier
Scouts approach targets using Japanese. It is unlikely that the scouts speak any language other than Japanese, which makes it difficult for them to communicate with people that are not Japanese. Scouts preferably talk to Japanese girls to avoid increase in their workload.
Fundamental Problems Regarding Foriegn Workers in Japan
The main job of a scout is to bring prosperity to their business. Employers are indifferent to who is working for their company, as long as they are making a profit. Yet, underlying problems regarding foriegn workers are stopping scouts from recruiting them.
Foriegn students are generally granted a comprehensive permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence without specifying the place or hours of work, up to 28 hours per week, provided that the part-time job is not in an adult entertainment business or an establishment that includes adult entertainment-related businesses. (Tokyo Labor Bureau)
As I previously mentioned, young individuals between the ages 20s ~ young 30s, are within the scouts’ criteria. The majority of young foriengers in Japan, excluding technicle interns (技能実習生), are predominantly foriegn students on a VISA. It is forbidden for foriegn students with VISA to work in the adult-entertainment business, including pachinko arcades, bars, massage parlors, or other places deemed as “immoral.”
Xenophobia in Japan
“Racism is situated within a nexus of interrelated forms of discrimination and marginalization (Suzuki, 2015).”
Xenophobia, the act of extremely disliking or the fear of foreigners, exists in Japan.
American Christal, has a sign that says “Only Japanese People” on the entrance door. Although stores should be able to choose customers just as customers are able to choose offered services, this sign shows the business’ xenophobic attitude toward foreign customers.
American Christal, Kabuki-cho,
Businesses with this xenophobic mindset woud have the same mindset towards its employees.
Conclusion
While exploring the demography of targets in Kabuki-cho, it was found that 20 years old ～ younger 30 year old Japanese girls were targeted the most. Individuals underage are protected by the Entertainment Establishments Control Law, which forbids them to work. If this law is violated, the business could be punished by imprisonment, fines, or administrative penalties such as suspension of the business. Therefore, it is clear that scouts avoid underage girls to avoid punishment. More obviously, scouts avoided foreigners as well. The language barrier between scouts and the individual that can not speak Japanese, which comes from and also leads to xenophobia, and the underlying issues regarding foriegn workers in Japan are such reasons why scouts avoid foreigners when recruiting girls.