With much of Japan on semi-lockdown (or at least, slowdown) due to measures to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, freelancers and the self-employed are particularly feeling the crunch.
This naturally includes prostitutes of various types (soaplands, call girls, etc.). Though some delivery health services are trying to cash in on the crisis with coronavirus-themed marketing, we expect most fuzoku establishments are closed or running reduced hours right now. Naturally, accurate numbers of these are hard to come by, though we did read an interview with a sex worker at an Ikebukuro delivery health in which she candidly explained that the number of customers had fallen and the impact this had had on her income.
There has been much speculation that the mass closure of hostess clubs will drive hostesses into prostitution to make ends meet.
And it seems some guys in Japan are rubbing their hands with glee at anticipation of the eager ladies about to pour into fuzoku services to earn an honest yen. One of those gentlemen is apparently comedian Takashi Okamura, who recently stoked controversy on a late-night radio show by joking about this situation.
The 49-year-old Okamura said last week that he looked forward to enjoying the attractive women who will pour into sex work because of their financial straits brought up by the coronavirus, and told listeners to save up lots of money to get the most out of the goods soon to be on offer at fuzoku.
Provocative remarks meant in jest? Parody of the “spend-to-boost-the-economy” spiel that politicians gush? Bad-taste schadenfreude?
At any rate, the Twittersphere was quick to respond with condemnation and the broadcaster, Nippon Hoso, has since issued an apology for Okamura’s comment.
