What Do We Talk about When We Talk about Compensated Dating (Enjo- Kousai) in Japan? A Constructed Phenomenon of Modern Day Societal Japan

It is known that Japan is home to a very prospering sexual industry, and that sex sells in different forms and shapes. Going hand-in-hand with the prosperity and development of this industry, however,are a number of collateral matters in the form of moral problems: sex-related crimes,issues and concerns. Although the existence of a thriving sex industry is not uncommon elsewhere, Japan’s case is quite different and unique. This difference lies in the overly sexual objectification of schoolgirls. It was reported that schoolgirls started to engage in compensated dating, or enjo-kousai(援助交際) the specific term in Japanese for this activity. At the time of discovery, this phenomenon took the Japanese society by surprise. Enjo-kousai was once ubiquitous and prevalent in the Japanese media and under the public eye. However, as suggested by newspaper headlines, in recent years the term has not been applied unless connected to organized crime or celebrities/politicians scandals. Still, many...Show moreIt is known that Japan is home to a very prospering sexual industry, and that sex sells in different forms and shapes. Going hand-in-hand with the prosperity and development of this industry, however,are a number of collateral matters in the form of moral problems: sex-related crimes,issues and concerns. Although the existence of a thriving sex industry is not uncommon elsewhere, Japan’s case is quite different and unique. This difference lies in the overly sexual objectification of schoolgirls. It was reported that schoolgirls started to engage in compensated dating, or enjo-kousai(援助交際) the specific term in Japanese for this activity. At the time of discovery, this phenomenon took the Japanese society by surprise. Enjo-kousai was once ubiquitous and prevalent in the Japanese media and under the public eye. However, as suggested by newspaper headlines, in recent years the term has not been applied unless connected to organized crime or celebrities/politicians scandals. Still, many questions are left unanswered. Where and what is enjo-kousai in Japan today? Looking back and now, what were/are we talking about when we talk about compensated dating in Japan?Show less

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What Do We Talk about When We Talk about Compensated Dating (Enjo- Kousai) in Japan? A Constructed Phenomenon of Modern Day Societal Japan