Child Sex Tourism to Laos from Japan Booms, Driven By Social Media

Southeast Asia has long been a favorite among Japanese tourists: affordable, just a short flight away, and offering unique cultural and natural experiences. For most travelers, that’s the main draw.

But behind the postcards and tourist brochures lies a far darker reality, one that has long raised alarms and is now back in the spotlight. Child sex tourism is not new in places like Laos, but demand appears to be rising, driven by a growing number of Japanese nationals traveling there with that specific intent.

Japanese citizens conduct child prostitution “tours” for visitors

Sex tourism involving children in Laos is sadly not uncommon. In Vientiane, the capital, many brothels operate under the guise of hotels, restaurants, or guesthouses. Reporters from TBS News traveled to Laos to witness the disturbing trend firsthand.

Inside these establishments, young girls were seen entering through back doors, a tactic confirmed by staff. Some of the girls were reportedly as young as 13 years old. Most come from rural, impoverished families, recruited by local brokers under the promise of earning money for their households. According to the international NGO Save the Children, nearly 30% of girls aged 5 to 17 in Laos are involved in prostitution.

Despite the harsh reality, strict censorship in Laos means such issues rarely surface in local media. The country tightly controls its image, leaving much of the abuse hidden from public view.

Yet the problem has grown so severe that warnings are now being broadcast even on flights to Laos. TBS News reported that on AirAsia flights, crews remind passengers before landing that “human trafficking and child prostitution are illegal in Laos.”

A surge in Japanese visitors

What is driving this renewed attention? A surge in Japanese nationals traveling to Laos for child exploitation appears to be a major factor. Obscene videos and posts on social media – including guides to brothels, recordings of minors, and customer reviews – have raised alarm among authorities.

In response, the Japanese Embassy has issued warnings that child prostitution and exploitation are punishable under Laotian law. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that offenders could face prosecution in Japan as extraterritorial crimes. Heightened vigilance also led Aichi Prefectural Police to arrest two men in their 60s on August 26 for filming minors in Laos and sharing the content online.

One disturbing driver of this trend is the so-called “child prostitution tours” organized by Japanese residents in Laos. Acting as guides, they escort Japanese travelers into exploitative situations. According to TBS reports, many of the girls involved are school students, summoned during lunch breaks or between classes.

Even amid growing international scrutiny, these organizers continue to operate in the shadows, evading law enforcement and perpetuating the abuse.

A dark trade

Child sex tourism in Southeast Asia is hardly new. For decades, it has thrived in the shadows, shielded by government silence, weak enforcement, and a lack of public awareness.

One case from 2000 illustrates the problem vividly: a Japanese man was arrested in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for repeatedly buying sex from minors. His sentence, two years in prison, barely reflected the gravity of his crimes. Reports suggest the youngest victim was only 13, though younger encounters cannot be ruled out. And his case is far from unique, or confined to Japan.

The scope is global. Child sex tourism refers to individuals who travel abroad, often to developing countries, to exploit minors. According to UNICEF, in 2008, more than 100,000 children in the Philippines, 20,000 in Mexico, and up to 15,000 in Kenya fell victim to sex tourism. Behind these numbers are familiar stories. Brokers trap children from poor families with promises of work or education, only to force them into cycles of exploitation. Some traffickers move victims across borders; others keep them local. Few ever escape.

The issue remained largely ignored until 1996, when the first World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Stockholm set international standards. Yet nearly three decades later, the abuse persists.

Japan, too, has its own reckoning. In 2020 alone, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recorded 2,409 cases of child sexual victimization, with 1,818 perpetrators arrested and 1,531 children harmed. And those figures only hint at the scale of the problem. Behind them is a darker reality: exploitation that crosses borders, preys on poverty, and thrives in silence.

Raising the bar

Efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation are gradually strengthening. Internationally, the UN’s 2000 Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography sets the global standard. Domestically, Japan has developed its own framework.

At the core is the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Act, which punishes not only those who commit these crimes but also anyone who encourages or solicits them. The law defines a child as anyone under 18, creating a clear benchmark for protection.

Crucially, authorities don’t wait for complaints: they can investigate and act even if victims stay silent. With many victims too scared, manipulated, or unaware to speak up, this gives the law real teeth.

On top of that, authorities have taken further steps in recent years. The 2022 Child Sexual Victimization Prevention Plan brought together public agencies, schools, private organizations, and international partners to raise awareness and improve early detection. Schools now have boards to spot abuse, while consultation centers in healthcare facilities and juvenile training schools provide safe spaces for victims. Even online tools, like Aichi Prefecture’s 2019 LINE human rights service, give children a safe way to reach out.

A major milestone came in 2023, when Japan finally raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 – the lowest in advanced nations until then. Sexual acts between adults and anyone under 16, regardless of circumstances, are now punishable by law.

These reforms signal real progress. But gaps remain. Enforcement is uneven, and many offenders exploit loopholes or move their operations abroad, escaping justice. While prevention is improving, the fight to protect children from sexual exploitation is far from over – and far from limited to national borders.

Gaps in justice

What happens when someone commits a sex crime against a child in Japan? The laws are clear, but enforcement can fall short.

Japan relies on two legal frameworks. The Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Act of 1999 punishes sexual acts with minors in exchange for money or benefits, with penalties of up to five years in prison or fines up to 3 million yen. For acts without financial motives, the Penal Code applies. With the age of consent now 16, sexual contact with anyone younger can lead to up to five years behind bars, and indecent acts up to 10 months.

On paper, that sounds strict. In practice? Not always. Serious crimes sometimes get surprisingly light sentences.

Take the example of former House of Representatives member Shiiki Tamotsu. In August 2024, he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl at a karaoke venue in Kabukicho, Tokyo. He approached her, confirmed her age, and committed the act knowingly. The court gave him three years in prison, suspended for five. In practice, he won’t serve a day unless he reoffends in the next five years – a punishment that barely feels like one.

Public outrage was immediate. Many argued the court went too easy, with some pointing to Shiiki’s public position as a factor. Authorities cited his apology and compensation as reasons for mitigation, but that hardly undoes the trauma inflicted on a child.

Cases like this expose a glaring contradiction: Japan has strengthened child protection laws, yet serious offenses can still slip through. Be it in local streets or distant countries, the law isn’t always doing enough to stop abuse or punish those who commit it.

Hidden in plain sight

Finding a silver lining in stories like this is never easy. The reality is harsh: while we hope for change, similar cases may be happening right now. Legal reforms and stricter penalties have made progress, but when it comes to serious violations of children’s rights, it often feels like too little, too late.

One clear takeaway is the double-edged power of media. In the Laos child sex tourism case, offenders connected with like-minded individuals by sharing indecent content and reviews online – actions that likely fueled a surge in offenses.

Ministry of Health data appears to support this link. Social media-linked crimes have increased by 4.8% over the past five years, with The Social Media Service Formerly Known as Twitter accounting for approximately 35.5% of reported cases.

At the same time, the spread of this content on social media has ignited public outrage. More people are paying attention, and authorities are now alerted to crimes that might have gone unnoticed. Without such public scrutiny, these cases would never see the light.

And while laws and enforcement progress, staying vigilant against these networks – which both endanger children and, paradoxically, bring their stories to light – feels just as imperative.

Sources

ラオスで広がる日本人“児童買春ツアー”の闇 授業の合間に呼び出され…性的搾取される少女たち　TBS News

ラオスにおける児童買春に関する注意喚起　在ラオス日本国大使館

旅行先地における子ども買春とは？　UNICEF

子供の性被害（児童の性的搾取等）厚生労働省

子供に対する性的な暴力の根絶に向けた対策の推進　男女共同参画局

元衆院議員の椎木保被告に有罪判決、女子中学生に不同意性交罪…「卑劣で悪質な犯行で刑事責任は重大」　読売新聞

女子中学生に性的暴行、元衆議院議員に「執行猶予」がついた理由は？　SNSでは「軽すぎる」と批判も　弁護士ドットコムニュース