Quote Originally Posted by PaulTB
Money, but not at all plain and simple. Why is 30 quid for a few accessories so important and why is the means to get it so unimportant? Those are questions of relative values - and not the literal 'price tag' sort.
I agree, especially that it is not difficult to find a job for women in Japanese cities where enjo kosai happen. It's just that it's a quick way of making a lot of money, so many girls prefer it to working at a combini or becoming an OL (or they combine enjo kosai with it).

Another problem is when enjo kosai is done by girls under 15, which I heard is quite common, and getting worse with time (always younger and younger). It is also ununderstandable as their parents would probably have bought them what they want, given that Japanese parents usually spoil their children nowadays.

I also disagree with the "Unique Japanese culture of prostitution" idea with respect to Enjo Kousai. The idea of young girls prostituting themselves on their own behalf is by no means an old established tradition. The very fact that this phenonomen appeared were it didn't previously exist shows a change has taken / is taking place. If anything this change is likely to be Western cultural 'values' - albeit a subsection.
Prostitution has always been better accepted in Japan than in the West. The same is true of nudity. The women's status was also lower before than it is today, which can only play toward a higher rate of prostitution.

However, I agree that a mistaken Western influence has played an important role. I heard many Japanese say that they thought Westerners had sex more casually than the Japanese, which is false. When discussing the enjo kosai problem or the omnipresence of soaplands, porn, etc. I was told that the Japanese thought that Westerners approved even more of that given the freedom that women enjoy in Western countries !! They completely misunderstood what femininism was about. It's justly the opposite, i.e. that women should not be treated as sex objects (in a Japanese mind, it means that women are free to have sex with whoever they want, even to get a promotion or get money ).

Emphasis on commercialism, brand goods, what money can buy. Bombardment by adverts and magazines featuring sexy models in sexy situations. Aren't these all outcomes (exaggerated in places) of Western influence brought over to Japan since the 2nd world war?
I have always had the impression that material goods are more important than "moral values" (e.g. self-respect, pride) in Japan and the rest of East Asia. Maybe that it partly because of the culture of humility, and partly because of collectivism ("everyone is the same, after all"). Rather than enjoying being different, unique or strive for personal achievements to satisfy one's pride, the Japanese enjoy being the same as the rest of the group, to satisfy their recognition from the group or avoid being criticised for being different. This also means that once something becomes accepted by the group, it is difficult to stop it (eg. bicycle & umbrella thefts, enjo kosai, reading porn in trains, etc.), because the "group moral" is stronger than "individual moral".