Human Trafficking: JAPAN
Shortly after launching The Altar IHOP, Tokyo, we began seeking God for His direction on how He would have us pray for 2009. Almost immediately, the direction was made known through what first seemed like a few random encounters which quickly turned into one confirmation after another.
Within two weeks, we were put in contact with the director of a leading agency dedicated to ending human trafficking in Japan. Since that time, the contacts and opportunities have continued to come our way spanning even to India.
As we pray for human trafficking in Japan and Asia, our prayers cover all involved with trafficking. This ranges from those providing aid, to those trafficked, to those who fuel the industry through purchases and finally to those who run the business side of things.
In the area of human trafficking, Japan is a key nation due to the part they played in opening doors region wide to the trafficking of persons during, before and most certainly after WWII. This is a role that carries with it worldwide impact.
We believe Abba has given us a promise in that, the day Japan stands as a nation before the world in a spirit of true humility and repents (issues a full apology) to the individuals as well as nations it willfully took advantage of, that day will be a day in which multitudes will be released into freedom.
I. Brief history of HUMAN TRAFFICKING SITUATION
The history of human trafficking in Japan cannot be outlined without first looking at the history of prostitution and “entertainment” in the nation.
The Traditions of Culture
This was, in many ways an element of high society and was to such a part of the culture that “women of pleasure” were trend setters in fashion and many forms of traditional entertainment. In as early as the 700’s women were known to perform services for male patrons in exchange for compensation in forms of clothing or other valuables. These women were eventually licensed into their occupations and functioned in very orderly yet strictly regulated hierarchies. With oiran, tayu and geisha being different evolutions of courtesans who were called yujo, “women of pleasure.” These were considerably higher in class than mere prostitutes who were only “sex workers.” Women were often, though not always, born into these roles and deliberately trained for them.In the early 1600’s government edicts were issued thereby restricting prostitution to certain areas. These edicts led to “women of pleasure” living in walled, guarded districts which ensured both taxation and access control. The women were not allowed out of the compounds except once per year to see the cherry blossoms and to visit dying relatives. This bit of history is important and is a mirror for the situation in Japan today.