Translation guide
A place where people pay for sexual services. In Japanese, the most common and neutral term is 風俗店 (fūzokuten), but there are many words depending on historical context, legality, and type of establishment.
To refer to a place where sexual services are sold in contemporary Japan, without strong historical or illegal connotations.
The standard modern term for any sex-related business, including brothels, soaplands, and other adult entertainment venues. It is relatively neutral and commonly used in news and conversation.
There are many brothels in that area.
Literally 'prostitution inn'. A direct term for a brothel, but can sound blunt or old-fashioned. Often used in legal or historical contexts.
Running a brothel is prohibited by law.
A literary or historical term for a brothel, often used in novels or historical descriptions. Not common in everyday speech.
He grew up in a brothel.
To refer to particular kinds of sex establishments that are common in Japan today, each with its own name and style.
A type of brothel where services involve bathing with the client. Technically a 'bathhouse' but understood as a sex establishment. Very common in Japan.
There are many soaplands in Yoshiwara.
A brothel where sexual services are provided without full intercourse (often oral sex). The name comes from 'fashion' and 'health'.
To talk about brothels in historical contexts, such as the Edo period or pre-war Japan, where licensed quarters existed.
A historical licensed red-light district, such as Yoshiwara in Edo. Often used when discussing history or traditional culture.
The red-light districts flourished in the Edo period.
Literally 'red line', referring to districts where prostitution was semi-officially tolerated after WWII until 1958. Now a historical term.
An unlicensed brothel area in the Edo period, outside the official red-light districts. Historical term.
While 風俗店 is the standard term, it may sound too direct or formal in casual settings. Often, people use euphemisms like お店 (おみせ, 'shop') or specific establishment names when the context is clear.
風俗店 is a broad term covering all sex-related businesses, including those that may not involve full intercourse. 売春宿 specifically implies a place for prostitution, which is technically illegal in Japan. Use 風俗店 for general reference, and 売春宿 only when emphasizing the illegal or direct prostitution aspect.
A fashion health is a type of brothel.
An outcall brothel service where a sex worker visits the client's home or hotel. Often abbreviated as デリヘル.
I called an outcall brothel service.
赤線地帯は売春防止法で廃止された。
The red-line districts were abolished by the Anti-Prostitution Law.
Okabasho were unofficial brothel districts.