“Men’s underground” idols, or “men-geka,” confer with male idols who usually are not affiliated with main leisure companies and earn earnings by way of small-scale stay performances and different actions.
Fans find yourself spending cash on “paid fan services” provided throughout these stay exhibits.
For instance, “Paying 1,000 yen allows you to take a two-shot photo with your favorite idol and talk for one minute.” Additionally, relying on the quantity paid, followers might obtain “autographs on personal items,” “letters from the idol,” and even “dates.”
The downside with such “oshi activities,” together with these of “men-geka,” is that some women interact in actions like “papakatsu” or compensated relationship to earn cash.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police have created a poster to boost consciousness in regards to the difficulty. According to the poster, the difficulty begins when followers, regardless of having fun with free “men-geka” stay exhibits, pay for picture classes. The sort phrases from their favourite idols make them need to take extra images or go on dates, however they do not have the cash. This leads them to interact in “papakatsu,” compensated relationship, and even taking cash from house to afford these “paid services.”
The variety of consultations about such points was round 40 in 2022 however elevated to 100 in 2023.
The content material of those consultations contains:
– “My 18-year-old daughter is obsessed with ‘men-geka’ and stays out without permission.”
– “My high school daughter is engaging in prostitution for ‘men-geka.'”
What’s the fact behind these instances?
In 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested 140 girls for prostitution in Kabukicho, Tokyo, for soliciting shoppers on the streets. Out of those, over 70%, or 106 girls, had been of their 20s, and three had been youngsters. Fifteen of them said they had been incomes cash for “men-geka” actions.
Is there no method to stop this aside from elevating consciousness?
Why is regulation troublesome? Does the Entertainment Business Law apply? Is love a hurdle?
Although “men-geka” actions might doubtlessly result in crime, they’re authorized, so there isn’t any direct regulation to use.
According to a senior investigator on the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, host golf equipment entertain clients in their very own premises, so if there’s an issue, the Entertainment Business Law could be utilized for “entertainment acts.”
However, “men-geka” idols lease locations like stay homes for his or her actions, and followers are simply supporting them, so it does not rely as leisure. Moreover, minors can freely enter these venues except it is late at night time.
A serious “hurdle” is that the victims, the feminine followers, have romantic emotions for his or her favourite idols and dislike the thought of the police intervening with males they like. Thus, it’s troublesome to get cooperation from the victims.
When somebody is deeply concerned, they might change into blind to their environment, which could be particularly harmful for minors. In such instances, it is necessary for folks to know the scenario. In truth, there have been instances the place the sufferer was uncooperative, and the mom persuaded her, resulting in an arrest.
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Source: 日テレNEWS