I went back to the red light district yesterday, the first time in over two weeks and was stunned at what I discovered. Half of the buildings in the district had been demolished, reduced to a massive pile of concrete and wrenched steal. Walking through streets that I could barely recognize I felt strangely exposed and vulnerable. I stopped at a brothel and asked what had happened. The two girls looked at me suspiciously then told me a new road was going to be put in. Instead of openness from the prostitutes that I was used to I was met with mistrust, hesitation and reluctance.

It discouraged me more than it should have.

The lives of prostitutes, pimps and mama-san's are not stable any more. Their brothels might be next on the demolition list. They are afraid of everything and everyone. What I need is information from someone, a prostitute or a pimp, who can trust me enough to tell me what is going on, what their reaction is, where the girls from those demolished brothels have gone. I need to know.