88 arrested for soliciting prostitution near Tokyo park so far this year

A total of 88 women and girls as young as 16 were arrested from January to November for soliciting prostitution near Okubo Park, a municipal park in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, the Metropolitan Police Department said Wednesday.

The arrests, made under the anti-prostitution law, reflect ongoing challenges in curbing illegal activities in the area, which has been dubbed a “prostitution haven” on social media.

Officials have noted a troubling trend of younger women engaging in solicitation and are intensifying patrols while working closely with local governments to provide support.