Cases of forced prostitution and human trafficking were reported by 46 people across 17 prefectures in 2016, including 25 Japanese — the most since 2001, the National Policy Agency said Thursday.
But one group involved in combating the crimes said the numbers represent only a portion of the true total.
Eighty percent of the victims were in their teens and 20s. The youngest victims, both 15, were Japanese and Vietnamese. There were also eight Thais, seven Cambodians, and five Filipinos.