On 25/3, Daisuke Jinbo, 44, received an 18-month prison sentence from a Tokyo district court. He was convicted of leaking investigative information to an illegal prostitution ring.
Investigators identified the Natural brokerage group as one of Japan's largest organizations recruiting sex workers. Based in Tokyo's Kabukicho red-light district, Natural reportedly generated around 4.5 billion JPY (28 million USD) in revenue in 2022 by recruiting women for sex work and related fields.
Jinbo provided Natural with images captured by police surveillance cameras in April and May last year. He also disclosed the cameras' locations and coverage areas to the group.
The former officer also faced accusations of giving the group a list of 23 addresses where secret cameras were installed to monitor illegal prostitution activities. Jinbo was dismissed from his position in 12/2025.
Recently, Japan's Ministry of Justice convened an expert council meeting. The council is discussing whether to criminalize the act of purchasing sex.
Current law only penalizes acts related to selling sex, such as soliciting clients in public and prostitution brokerage.
According to the agency, nationwide authorities handled 634 violations of prostitution laws in 2024. Prostitution brokerage accounted for the most common offense, with 301 cases, followed by providing locations for sex work, with 135 cases.
By Hai Thu (Source: Japan Today)