z25 Street in Osaka painted yellow to curb prostitution
The yellow paint was applied to the street in December 2024. The intention is to trigger a psychological effect, as people do not like to be in a conspicuous location.PHOTO: YOMIURI SHIMBUN/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
OSAKA – A street in Kita Ward, Osaka, which is notorious for prostitution, has been painted yellow as part of an effort to discourage prostitutes from standing there and waiting for customers.
The yellow paint was applied to the street in December 2024. The intention is to trigger a psychological effect, as people do not like to be in a conspicuous location.
Article continues after this advertisementIf the move is effective, it may be implemented in other areas where street prostitution is rampant.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION A surreal finish to Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial GLOBALNATION Ukraine says questioning POWs it claims are North Koreans GLOBALNATION PH to open 4 foreign missions in N. America, Asia Pacific in 2025READ: Prostitution: ‘mujeres publicas’ and ‘karayuki-san’
In the past year, the Osaka prefectural police have arrested 30 prostitutes on suspicion of violating the anti-prostitution law.
Article continues after this advertisementThe arrests were made while the prostitutes were soliciting customers in the area, which is lined with hotels and restaurants.
Preliminary results of the PSA’s August round of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed the unemployment rate recorded the lowest in two months or since the 3.1 percent recorded in June, translating to 2.07 million jobless Filipinos.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, street prostitution has not disappeared from the area, with about 10 prostitutes seen there every evening. Some residents have moved, fed up with the negative impact on the area’s image.
Article continues after this advertisementAs police patrols and crackdowns have had no effect on decreasing the number of prostitutes in the area, the local government came up with the idea of painting the street to deter the women from waiting there for customers ahead of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
READ: Lights out! Japan city to shut red-light zone during G20
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to “nudge theory”, a concept in behavioral economics, the use of eye-catching “warning colors” on the road has a psychological effect, making it harder for people to stay on the road, an expert said.
miya4d slotThe road, which is about 100m long, is also decorated with eye-catching artwork featuring colourful fish. Locals hope the strategy will be effective.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
