Tokyo court jails massage parlour owner 5 years for forcing Thai girl, 12, into sex work

A Tokyo District Court sentenced Masayuki Hosono to five years in prison and a ¥1 million fine for forcing a 12-year-old Thai girl into sexual services at his massage parlour, convicting him under child welfare law. The case highlights trafficking and exploitation of minors in Japan's sex trade, with prosecutors having sought a longer sentence. The verdict underscores judicial response to child exploitation but does not signal a broader policy shift.