In a quiet corner of the Lao capital Vientiane, an unremarkable compound conceals a dark and exploitative operation.
Behind one door, a room resembling an elementary school classroom is filled with girls, some perhaps as young as 10 years old.
An investigation by Kyodo News has found that foreign men, including Japanese nationals, are among those who frequent such places for sex.
The child sex trade has become a pressing concern in Laos, where underground compounds operate discreetly but openly enough to be found through social media or word of mouth.
Multiple establishments were identified in Vientiane serving clients from China, South Korea and Japan.
In June this year, the Japanese Embassy in Laos issued a warning on its website urging its nationals to avoid involvement in exploitative activities, citing concerns raised by posts on social media.
The embassy warned that using child prostitution services overseas is also subject to punishment under the child prostitution and pornography prohibition act at home.
One compound visited by a Kyodo News reporter hosted a group of Japanese men who believed the journalist was also a tourist and allowed him to join.
A local man acted as guide, leading them first to a room where around 10 girls, estimated to be in their mid-teens, were waiting. When a request was made for "younger" girls, the group was taken deeper inside.
In a back room, about 10 children were seen sitting or lying on thin mattresses. The reporter departed as the visitors each chose a girl and moved toward hotel rooms within the compound.
At least three other similar compounds operate in the city, some disguised as restaurants. Staff told reporters that most of the clients are Chinese, followed by Japanese, South Koreans, and occasionally Westerners.
According to local sources, most of the girls in these compounds come from rural ethnic minority communities. A Lao woman of Khmu ethnicity who assisted in the reporting said recruiters regularly bring girls from her home region in central Laos.
This year, Kyodo News traveled to the woman's village nestled in the mountains and found compounds similar to those in the capital.
Teenagers there described being lured into prostitution by poverty, family pressure or false promises of legitimate work.
"I was born in a poor northern village in Laos and sold my virginity to a Chinese man for a large sum when I was 12 years old," a girl, who said she is now 15, told Kyodo and the assistant away from the compound where she works.
"My older sister did the same, so there was no hesitation on my part to do so, too. After that, I moved to this village and started working here."
At a different compound resembling a restaurant in the village, another girl who claimed to be 16 said, "I thought I'd be cooking and washing dishes here so I was shocked (that I had to provide sexual services).
"I absolutely do not want my 10-year-old sister to work here. I want to be able to send her to school with the money that I earn."
The village is situated along a busy highway linking China and Thailand, where truck drivers make up a steady stream of clients.
Another factor fueling the problem is the rise of cross-border marriages. With China's gender imbalance leaving many men without partners, marriage brokers now operate in Lao villages. Families sometimes agree to such arrangements because the payments offered are several times higher than local dowries.
One mother described how a middle-aged Chinese man visited her home with a broker seeking to marry her daughter.
"One day, he suddenly visited. After he came here a few times, I finally agreed," said the mother. "My daughter is living well in China now, so we are lucky."
Other families, however, have refused such offers after hearing reports of abuse. Critics in Laos and abroad label the practice as a form of trafficking.
Norihiko Yamada, a researcher at the Japan External Trade Organization's Institute of Developing Economies, who specializes in Lao politics, said ethnic minority girls face particularly limited opportunities.
Factory jobs in cities are unattractive because of long hours, low wages, and strict schedules, while cultural differences and discrimination from the majority Lao population create further barriers.
"When girls leave their villages to find work, they often rely on relatives and friends already in the city. These connections frequently lead to prostitution, and other girls follow, creating a cycle," said Yamada. "Some girls tend to think they need to do this kind of work to help their family."
The issue has intensified since the late 2000s, when Chinese-funded projects such as rubber plantations expanded in Laos. Economic ties have brought more Chinese men into contact with Lao women, including through marriages arranged by brokers.
Yamada said the problem is not easily solved, but stricter enforcement against foreign offenders and stronger international pressure on the Lao government can make a difference.
© KYODO
53 Comments
didou
Problems would be solved when foreign governments will start penalize their own country tourists, additionally to put some pressure on Laos.
Nicolò
The essence of this issue lies in poverty. Since the dawn of humanity, poor women have sold themselves, while poor men have perished by the roadside. This fundamental structure has never changed.. That's being said I can't understand why Japanese would go all the way there when they have nice bathhouses;p
JeffLee
Kyodo is to be commended for its reporting on this. However, the article should have expanded on the involvement of Japanese men in the rape of the children rather than diverting away to the ethnic situation, etc. after only five sentences.
It seems the reporter encountered these Japanese men in person yet didn't talk to them or find out their stories. Story could have easily been a lot better.
Nyan
because they are pedos.
sakurasuki
Where there is demand, there always will be supply.
Some of those weirdos can stop only using manga and anime, some of them need to travel to Laos to fulfill their "need".
syniksan
It's cheaper.
dbsaiya
I agree with JeffLee. The article merely stated the obvious. What’s truly needed is more detailed information on how the embassy and Japanese authorities are cooperating to prevent these men from traveling there in the first place. It should also include insights into how international law enforcement is working with the Laotian government to ensure that pedophiles are brought to justice and face the full extent of the law. The devastating effects of poverty are primarily a domestic issue, but with international cooperation from organizations such as ASEAN and other NGOs, more resources could be directed toward supporting those in need.
girl_in_tokyo
icolòToday 06:51 am JST
Let me fix that for you.
The essence of this issue lies in men believing they can buy womens' bodies and rape children. Since the dawn of humanity, women have been forced by poverty, and by sex traffickers, who take advantage of their desperation and ignorance, to kidnap and force them into sexual slavery. This fundamental structure has never changed. The reason why Japanese would go all the way there is because they know they can get away with raping children in that country, and because the distance allows them to hide this horrifying crime from the people around them who would find them vile and disgusting if they knew, and would have them arrested.
In short, these men rape and abuse women because they can get away with it.
Meiyouwenti
It’s a well known fact that hordes of pedo Westerners flock to Thailand. Maybe they haven’t found out about the facilities in Laos yet.
Aly Rustom
Exactly!
Aly Rustom
And in other news...
57-year-old man arrested for allegedly groping 11-year-old girl's buttocks at food event
WoodyLee
Corruption, Poverty, and Lawlessness will lead to several crimes including Child Prostitution, Drugs addiction, and sometimes murder.
We have seen it happen in several parts of the world and still happening.
When little girls as young as 9 are sold for prostitution it indicates not only poverty but morally bankrupt individuals on both sides who put these kids in harms way.
Sadly China, Korea, and Japan still have along ways to go.
WoodyLee
Well Done KYODO News, good reporting.
Hopefully this article will bring to light this scam and put pressure on the Japanese authorities to take action and put these scums behind bars.
masugomi
Laos… hmmmmm…
Fighto!
Individuals (they definitely are NOT men) who go to engage in sex with minors should be fully, physically castrated upon return to Japan - and serve 30 years minimum behind bars.
Yrral
Someone with a psychological deprave mind would do this
WoodyLee
@ Fighto
""Individuals (they definitely are NOT men) who go to engage in sex with minors should be fully, physically castrated upon return to Japan - and serve 30 years minimum behind bars.""
In some parts of the world they are Killed till this day. some stoned to death, now does any of these nations scums ever think about going to Laos!??? I very much doubt it.
William77
No surprise at all seeing all the underage disgusting idolisation of underaged women by some japanese men.
This is sadly a plague that japan is famous for and should start with the government removing many of these mangas and anime that are borderline.
Garthgoyle
See? This is proof that the foreign Japanese are a danger and commit serious crimes. Just like that other Japanese man who got caught watching child porn on a flight. We should be banning Japanese tourist from traveling abroad (if we were to follow the current Sanseito and anti-immigration rhetoric).
Japantime
This is very common. If you go to places like Cambodia and Thailand you see many foreign men, not only Japanese walking around with pride holding hands with a young girl. Unfortunately this is something that will never end unless governments make changes to the law to stop sex tourism. Some countries even ban single men from booking hotels. They must be with a partner. Legoland is famous for not allowing single men to enter.
4Tno
This type of exposure should be a norm, unfortunately, it's not since a lot of top gov. officials are among these cockroaches hiding in the dark.
Tamarama
Couldn't even read half of this article, made me sick.
ian
Tf. They're operating practically in the open.
And japanese customers visiting as a group!
OssanAmerica
There is no mention of rape by any men, Japanese or otherwise.
Post a link if your'e going to talk about something other than the article.
8T
Pervs.
Fighto!
The article mentions paedophiles are preying upon girls "as young as 10 years old". These children are clearly unable to consent.
That, by definition, is rape.
Fighto!
Sadly, it no longer shocks me.
There's usually one or two who will chime in with the usual "it takes two to tango", or "she knew what she was doing".
Sometimes I despair humanity.
kohakuebisu
I do not know the age of consent in Laos, but I presume the children are below it, otherwise the story would not be written this way. If someone is too young to give consent, all "sex" with them is rape or some equivalent, subject only to legal technicalities over what words are used for the specific kind of illegal contact with where on the body. Such behaviour is all equally repugnant regardless of the legal words used for it.
It doesn't matter how happy they or their pimp is to take your money. The victim's age means there is no consent.
NCIS Reruns
I felt really saddened reading this. Laos needs to coordinate with international organizations and foreign governments to put a stop to this. I hope the media keeps doing its job exposing the indifference and corruption that enables such a sordid situation to continue.
MilesTeg
The age of consent in Laos is 15yrs old. So at the least, it's statutory rape.
It's weird and creepy that you'd be so offended by someone using the term rape in this case.
Agent_Neo
Reading the article, it seems that this is not just an issue for Japanese people.
I'm sure there are karaoke bars in China where sexual entertainment is popular, so why go all the way to Laos?
These types of pedophiles need to be cracked down on in China, which has more customers than Japan, and in South Korea, which will be the next big country after Japan.
However, there are concerns that if they can no longer do business in Laos, the girls will be sold overseas.
The fundamental problem is poverty in Laos, and while this will not be solved immediately, it will likely disappear as Laos continues its economic growth.
deanzaZZR
Citation needed.
Jay
I’m absolutely furious reading this, as a father, it makes my blood boil. I know most of you feel the same, exploiting children is beyond sickening.
But we need to be honest, we’ll never live in a world free from child exploitation while there are people of certain ideological "persuasions" (Uber "Progressives") working overtime to sanitize pedophilia, trying to rebrand these monsters as "minor-attracted people" and downplay the pure evil of what they do. There’s no "attraction" here, it’s abuse, it’s predation, and it destroys lives. Call it what it is, and come down extremely hard on anyone involved.
quercetum
From a different angle, the recent articles on a Japanese man watching child porn videos on a flight and Japanese pedophiles engaging in sex with minors seems to be an effort to raise awareness and to address the issue in this country.
JT is pointing out that this is a severe problem with Japanese men. Japanese men will say of course say we are not the only ones but JT will say, and we are "Japan" Today not X country Today.
virusrex
Mischaracterizing the situation as promoting abuse only devaluates any point you think you would have. There is no effort being done by "progressives" to sanitize abuse as you falsely claim, instead these are efforts that are being made to prevent it
https://safersociety.org/what-should-we-know-about-the-term-minor-attracted-person/
If one approach (like using terms for those that have never abused any child) mean having less people acting on pathological desires that also means abuse is being prevented. The problem is people that don't care about preventing anything, what they want is to release violent urges, even if that means facilitating that people abuse children.
Enshu Oldboy
These types of pedophiles need to be cracked down on in China…
Inferential logic skills needed.
I doubt these brothels have such numbers nor would report them to a widely considered corrupt government, bruh.
Cephus
Not only in Laos, child prostitution is rampant world wide especially in poor nations where young girls move from poverty stricken rural areas to big cities.
garypen
The entire article is about sex with children, which is...rape. Sex with a child is rape, as the child is not able to give consent.
It makes no difference if the men are paying for it. They are paying the adults in order to rape the children.
travelbangaijin
White men are going there as well...
TokyoLiving
Those scumbags deserve death penalty...
Don't touch the children!!!..
OssanAmerica
The age of consent is 15 in Laos. The article points out that there are girls younger than that. That is statutory rape under Laotian law. It is rape by legal definition but not violent rape which is what everyone imagines when they hear the word. It is criminal along with the entire child sex industry in Laos in which men from many foreign nationsare involved. And will require cooperation of all these nations to end it.
Nobody here is "defending pedophiles". This is an organized criminal activity that needs to be exterminated.
The article is descript and concise. It doesn't need to be misdirected by creating the image that men are going to Laos to carry out violent rape.
WA4TKG
Despicable
quercetum
Japanese Tourist Role in Poverty Alleviation of Laos.
Japanese Investment in Lao's Future Generations.
To associate Japanese men, and all men, with the raping of children is too overbearing for some to accept. The culture requires different expressions.
OssanAmerica
Men from many countries re engaging in this horrible criminal activity. Not just Asian but Western as well. China appears to be the biggest source, of these men due to the proximity and economic relationship with Laos.
deanzaZZR
Half the article was about Chinese men legally marrying Lao women. Japan just does the sexpat thing.
virusrex
It is rape, no other way of seeing this, that you require violence to recognize the crime do not make other forms of it a different thing. Intoxicating a victim to have sex without consent is also a common form of rape and it does not require any violence, yet it is still 100% rape.
"violent" is just something you tried to add to make a completely irrelevant distinction, the article is about men going to Laos to rape children, that you imagine this to be without violence do not make it so, nor would it make it something different from what it is.
You (no other people, no most people) think the term is always associated with violence, but that is of course wrong.
Jay
Wrong yet again. Calling this “an effort to prevent abuse” is just comforting fiction. What’s actually happening is a rhetorical shift that blurs moral lines under the pretense of empathy. The term “minor-attracted person” isn’t a neutral label; it’s a linguistic laundering of one of the most DESTRUCTIVE crimes imaginable. You are taking a category that provokes revulsion in normal people and trying to dress it up in silly nonsensical gentleness.
girl_in_tokyo
deanzaZZRToday 11:43 am JST
you mean the child rapist pedophile thing
Yohan
This is nonsense, police is not that bad in Thailand, and if they catch a foreigner with underage boys and girls, you will be sent for years to a horrible Thai prison and after deportation you are banned for life to enter Thailand again.
virusrex
This is a claim that requires evidence, experts in the field say this can help keeping people under therapy, you just calling them wrong does nothing to prove so, so present the evidence necessary to refute their claims else they are simply a much more reliable and trustful source of information than nameless people on the internet claiming something without any evidence.
Since (as the reference provided clearly explain) it is used for those that have not committed any crime precisely to indicate this your claim is completely wrong.
As long as this keep these people from abusing any child that is perfectly acceptable, unfortunately some people are more interested in unleashing their own violent tendencies so anything that helps preventing abuse is bad in their eyes since they would prefer for crimes to actually happen so they can act violently against the criminals.
Fortunately for the professionals in human health it is much preferable to keep the crimes from happening by keeping the potential criminals under therapy for as long as possible.
Jay
Ridiculous argument. A pedophile, by definition, is someone sexually attracted to children - whether or not they’ve acted on it. The distinction between thought and action doesn’t erase the moral weight of the desire, nor does it make neutral terminology any less misleading.
Your argument tries to frame this as a harmless technicality: “They haven’t offended, so calling them MAPs is fine.” But that’s exactly the point - you’re using a semantic loophole to sanitize a dangerous attraction. Whether someone has acted or not, the label still communicates a moral neutrality that doesn’t exist in reality. It’s not an academic clarification; it’s YOUR rhetorical sleight of hand that shifts public perception from clear condemnation to uneasy sympathy.
Defining MAPs as “non-offenders” doesn’t neutralize the problem, it merely provides cover for redefining language to make a morally abhorrent desire sound acceptable. Deeply troubling stuff.
Yohan
This part of the article is about another totally different story. It is not about sex with minors. China due to its stupid politics has now a huge gender imbalance with millions of young men who cannot find a reasonable female partner and are often facing a young female in their own country who is demanding a huge bride price in cash, house, car, gold etc. for her parents in return of marriage. China should outlaw the 'bride price' custom.
Dating in China for many young men is a nightmare and you cannot blame them to look for international marriage outside of China with the help of marriage brokers.
u_s__reamer
The sexual abuse of children has been a rampant feature of our primate species since the dawn of time, but it's now high time governments do much more to discourage and punish this ugly behavior and protect vulnerable children wherever they live. Cultural taboos around sex are where these horrors can be found hiding.