Japan's 'Alibi' Services Give Sex Workers Legit Identities

JAPAN—Considering the frequency with which current or former porn performers and other sex workers are being outed in the States, often with negative outcomes for the sex worker, Japanese services—called alibi-ya— that provide sex workers in that country with new fictitious identities might make a lot of sense here, too. Never mind that police in Japan are starting to crack down on the businesses. "The alibi-ya provide women in the country's sex industry with a reputable but totally fictitious identity, designed to conceal their real job from their families," reported Japan Daily Press. "The companies provide things like fake business cards, references and employment certificates to sex workers, and have even been known to provide a fake boss for birthday speeches and other family events." One might assume that because Japan's culture allows for one to rent a life, adding a layer or two to a real identity whould not be a big problem, but the recession is apparently leading some people to use their fake identities for unlawful purposes. "One alibi company was shut down recently after two of its clients used their fake documents in attempts to receive large bank loans," the article stated. The services themselves are completely legal, however, and as the owner of one such business stated, their sole goal is to improve the lives of people who would normally be shunned by society. "Shintaro Sakamoto, who runs one such business, explains that the purpose is not [to] further any illegal activities, but to help the women who work as call girls or at hostess bars keep their working lives private," wrote Adam Westlake. "His company helps their clients rent apartments and get children into nursery schools, things that would be very difficult should it be known what the applicant really does for a living. They even have phone services available, so when a women’s mother or father calls asking to speak with their daughter, the company explains that she is in a meeting. When their daughter returns the call, there is even a special number she can use so the called ID displays a landline phone from the office." Yup, considering the sickening trend by an increasingly nosey populace to mind everyone's business but their own, aided and abetted by social networks continuously harping on the need to share every moment of your life with hundreds or thousands of people you barely know, with the added caveat that you might be humiliated or shunned for life if some aspect of your existence is considered unworthy by a friend/acquaintance/employer/prospective employer/college/police or even your local dry cleaning establishment, a fake ID sounds like heaven.