Enjo kosai (援助交際), or "dating for assistance," is an industry in Japan where high school-aged girls are paid by older men to accompany them on dates and, often, to render sexual services. Most older observers, especially overseas, regard it as a form of prostitution, although younger people often view it as a completely different enterprise.

The social network surrounding enjo kosai is complex. Most initial contacts are made over "telephone clubs," anonymous public chat lines that are often advertised by handbills and business cards in entertainment districts. Dates are then generally arranged by mobile phone or e-mail.

Enjo kosai is often linked with the consumerist kogal subculture. It appeared after the end of the 1980's economic boom, and many observers believe that it serves as a way for young girls to preserve the lifestyle of that era, despite their families' more difficult financial situations. Others, especially within the Japanese academic establishment, see enjo kosai as a coming-of-age ritual that has naturally developed in Japan's contemporary capitalist society.

By various estimates, 5 to 13 percent of high school girls engage in enjo kosai, which may or may not include sex. [1]

Although prostitution has been illegal in Japan since the 1950's, and special laws concerning prostitution of minors have been in place since the 1990's, enjo kosai has not been regulated by the Japanese government, as it does not fall within the legal definition of prostitution unless the client expressly pays the girl for sex (which is rare, given the indirect nature of the transactions). Because the age of consent in Japan ranges from 12 to 16, depending on jurisdiction, enjo kosai clients cannot be charged with statutory rape.

Despite government ambivalence, enjo kosai has been a major topic in the Japanese media. Many enjo kosai encounters end in robbery or rape, and the victims are generally hesitant to report such incidents to the police, for cultural reasons.

In recent years, similar patterns have begun to emerge in the United States of America as well. [2]