| When prostitution was made illegal
in 1956, the brothels closed down and
promptly re-opened as Toruko (from
Turkish Bath). Following a complaint
from the then Turkish Ambassador to Japan,
the name was changed to Soapland,
and is usually abbreviated to simply Soap.
On entering a Soapland, you pay
up front for an "assisted bath". Following
the bath you then pay your naked "assistant"
directly for further services, including
full intercourse. Because you pay the
woman directly, this is seen to be a transaction
between two consenting adults, therefore
not illegal.
Soapland workers have the reputation
of being the most beautiful and most skilled,
but since the 1980s the number of Soaplands
has decreased to an estimated 1200, due
largely to the high cost, typically $500
for full service. |