20-9-2023 (TOKYO) Prostitution remains a controversial topic, even as society becomes more understanding of individual needs. However, a recent TikTok video featuring interviews with Japanese women has sparked unexpected responses on the subject.
The video, posted by Japanese content creator Takashii earlier this week, asked women in Japan for their thoughts on whether visiting prostitutes should be considered cheating. Within just two days, the one-minute clip received over eight million views.
In the video, two of the interviewed women immediately responded with a firm “no” when asked if visiting prostitutes counts as cheating. One woman expressed that she wouldn’t approve if her partner developed feelings for a prostitute, but she wouldn’t mind if it was purely for sexual purposes. Another woman shared a similar sentiment, stating that she would prefer her partner to visit a prostitute rather than engage with random girls. Shockingly, one interviewee even went as far as telling her boyfriend to “go to a prostitute if you wanna cheat,” stating that it’s acceptable as long as money is involved. Another woman mentioned that she would find it acceptable under certain circumstances, such as seeking companionship.
While most of the interviewees seemed accepting of their partners visiting prostitutes, there were some who held different views. One woman admitted that she struggled to understand why someone would choose to visit a prostitute, while another expressed that she would be upset if her partner engaged in such activities. However, it’s worth noting that visiting prostitutes is considered acceptable by some individuals in Japan due to the country’s cultural context and the prevalence of the prostitution scene.
Since the video was shared on TikTok and Instagram, it has gone viral, accumulating millions of views on both platforms. Reactions to the clip have been varied, with some expressing pity for the Japanese women, believing that they have settled for less in their relationships. Others raised the question of whether Japanese men would be accepting if their female partners engaged in similar behavior. Some YouTube users attributed the different perspectives to cultural differences between countries.
Interestingly, a few years ago, the YouTube channel Asian Boss conducted a similar video asking Japanese people about their views on prostitution. Surprisingly, the women interviewed in that video also did not consider visiting prostitutes as a form of cheating, as long as emotions were not involved.
The responses in the viral TikTok video have sparked discussion and debate. What are your thoughts on the subject, and what factors may have influenced the interviewees’ perspectives?
@takashiifromjapanCheating culture in Japan
