Shopping and entertainment districts in Chubu are seeing a jump in solicitation, including in Nishiki 3-chome (Kin-san), a bustling part of Nagoya's Naka Ward that is known as the liveliest downtown area in the region.
Touting is on the rise, with drunk customers finding themselves being pulled into hostess bars and other establishments that charge exorbitant fees.
Such establishments used to task their own staff with soliciting customers, but after the Aichi Prefectural Police cracked down, it is more common to see "freelancers" reeling in customers for them.