Translation guide
The sex industry encompasses businesses related to sexual services and entertainment. In Japanese, terms vary by formality, legality, and specific sector. Common expressions include 風俗 (fūzoku) for the broader adult entertainment industry, 性産業 (seisangyō) as a direct translation, and specific terms like ソープランド (sōpurando) for soaplands.
Referring to the sex industry as a whole, including legal and illegal sectors.
Broad term for the adult entertainment and sex industry, including legal businesses like hostess clubs, soaplands, and delivery health. Often used in compounds like 風俗店 (fūzokuten, sex industry shop) or 風俗嬢 (fūzokujō, sex worker).
He works in the sex industry.
Direct translation of 'sex industry', used in formal or academic contexts. Less common in everyday speech.
Referring to particular types of sex industry businesses.
Referring to the act of sex work or the people involved.
Discussing the legality or regulation of the sex industry.
The direct translation '性産業' is understood but sounds stiff and academic. In everyday conversation, '風俗' or specific terms like 'ソープランド' are more natural.
風俗 explicitly refers to sexual services, while 水商売 is a broader euphemism for nightlife entertainment that may or may not involve sex. Use 風俗 when sex is clearly involved.
The sex industry is a controversial topic.
There are many sex industry shops in this area.
The sex industry is difficult to regulate.
Literally 'water trade', a euphemism for the nightlife and adult entertainment industry, including bars, hostess clubs, and some sex-related businesses. Emphasizes the unstable, fluid nature of the business.
She works in the nightlife/sex industry.
Soapland, a type of bathhouse where sexual services are offered. A well-known sector of the Japanese sex industry.
There are many soaplands in Yoshiwara.
Delivery health, an outcall sex service. Often abbreviated as デリヘル (deriheru).
I called a delivery health service.
Pink salon, a type of sex establishment where oral sex is performed. Abbreviation of 'pink salon'.
Pink salons are cheap.
Image club, a type of sex establishment where workers dress in costumes (e.g., school uniforms, nurse outfits) to act out fantasies.
She works at an image club.
A female sex worker in the adult entertainment industry. The male equivalent is 風俗男 (fūzokuotoko), though less common.
She works as a sex worker.
Loanword 'sex worker', used in activist or academic contexts. More direct and less euphemistic than 風俗嬢.
Protect the rights of sex workers.
Literally 'prostitute', a direct and somewhat derogatory term. Use with caution; 風俗嬢 or セックスワーカー are more neutral.
Can be offensive; prefer 風俗嬢 or セックスワーカー in most contexts.
She was arrested as a prostitute.
Anti-Prostitution Law, the main law regulating prostitution in Japan. Often referenced in discussions of the sex industry.
Prostitution is prohibited under the Anti-Prostitution Law.
Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses, which governs sex industry shops. Short for 風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律.
A shop violating the Adult Entertainment Law was raided.
She left the sex industry last year.