The spread of the novel coronavirus and a government request that the public refrain from going outside has added to the predicament of many teenage girls in Japan who have left home due to abuse, poverty or other reasons.
"We see fewer girls in town, but they all have things to worry about," said Yumeno Nito, 30, who heads Colabo, a group that helps underage girls who have no place to go.
The group has secured rooms in a hotel as a shelter for them and also drives a bus named Tsubomi Cafe to Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district to offer free food and consultations inside.