Human trafficking happens in every region on the planet - including here in Japan - one of the safest countries in the world!
Join the ZOE Japan team as we deep-dive into various issues related to child trafficking in Japan including commercial sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material.
This is our English podcast channel, but a wide range of episodes are also available in Japanese. Simply search for STOP! 子どもの人身取引【ゾエ・ジャパン】or visit goZOE.jp/podcast or our YouTube channel for all Japanese episodes.
Publisher
ZOE Japan
Category
business · kids & family · religion & spirituality
Discovering that your child may be a victim of sexual exploitation can be devastating, especially if you live in a foreign country like Japan where it can be difficult to find information in English.
In this episode, join our ZOE staff as they discuss challenges and best practices based on real cases from the ZOE Hotline. Learn about the importance of forensic interviews and forensic medical examinations, as well as practical steps that you can take during those first critical hours or days after exploitation occurred. This episode is also available in Japanese, so be sure to share it with Japanese parents!
17 Jun 2026
Trapped Abroad: Understanding the Trafficking of Japanese Women
In this episode, ZOE Japan explores the growing trend of young Japanese women being recruited for overseas opportunities and the risks that can sometimes lead to exploitation and trafficking. Drawing on frontline observations, our team discusses common vulnerability factors, including debt bondage, financial pressures, abusive family backgrounds, and the influence of host clubs and chika idol culture.
We examine how online intermediaries market overseas opportunities, why some women may not recognize the dangers they face, and the realities of coercion, violence, and exploitation that can occur. Most importantly, we discuss practical ways families, churches, schools, and communities can help prevent trafficking by raising awareness and sharing resources with travelers.
This conversation is grounded in compassion for victims and offers hope by highlighting the support available through hotlines, victim services, and community organizations in both Japan and destination countries.
Prevention Mini-book Order Form (https://form.jotform.com/261607319844462)
ZOE Japan Website (https://www.gozoe.jp/)
If you prefer an electronic version of the prevention booklet, please contact us via email at info@goZOE.jp
4 Nov 2025
Ending Child Exploitation and Trafficking in Australia
In this inspiring episode, David Cross, CEO of ZOE Australia, shares his powerful journey from a successful business career to the frontline of fighting child trafficking and exploitation.
What started as disbelief after a church sermon led David and his wife, Andrea, to leave everything behind and move to Thailand — dedicating over a decade to caring for rescued children and training local leaders through ZOE International. Their experience in restorative care revealed the deep healing possible when love, safety, and faith come together.
Now back in Australia, David and his team at ZOE are addressing the hidden reality of child exploitation in one of the world’s most developed nations. He exposes how trafficking often operates through psychological manipulation, not visible chains — and why education, prevention, and community awareness are key to protecting children.
Key Takeaways:
- Child trafficking exists everywhere — even in wealthy nations like Australia.
- Awareness, education, and early prevention save lives.
- Restorative care and trauma-informed support are essential for survivors.
- Every person can play a role: trust your instincts, report concerns, and be a safe, caring adult for the children around you.
David also highlights ZOE Australia’s initiatives — including free school curricula for teens and a child safety board game called Treehouse — designed to equip communities to recognize and prevent exploitation.
Though the fight is challenging, stories of transformation show that healing and restoration are possible. “ZOE means life,” David reminds us — and every rescued child deserves the chance to live it abundantly.
Get Involved:
Pray, learn, and take action to protect children in your community.
Learn more at goZOE.jp (https://goZOE.jp) | goZOE.org.au (https://goZOE.org.au)
Other resources from ZOE Australia:
Treehouse game: https://www.gozoe.org.au/treehouse-game/ (https://www.gozoe.org.au/treehouse-game/)
Curriculum Year 9 & 10: https://www.gozoe.org.au/curriculum-download/ (https://www.gozoe.org.au/curriculum-download/)
#ChildTrafficking #ZOEJapanPodcast #ZOEAustralia #EndChildExploitation #HumanTraffickingAwareness #FaithInAction #RestorativeCare #ChildProtection
24 Mar 2025
Tokyo Host Clubs - a world of glamor and despair
The ZOE team investigates Tokyo host clubs, revealing how they can become breeding grounds for the trafficking of young women and children.
11 Nov 2024
Labor trafficking in Japan
Mariko Yamaoka from Not For Sale Japan discusses the exploitation of foreign migrant workers in Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program in this interview.
11 Nov 2024
Labor trafficking of Japanese language school students
Mariko Yamaoka from Not For Sale Japan discusses the labor trafficking and exploitation of foreign students studying in Japan under student visas in this interview.
12 Jul 2024
Episode 9 - Virtual Child Sexual Abuse Material
What is Virtual Child Sexual Abuse Material (previously known as Child Pornography)? Is sexual content in Japanese manga and anime legal? What is the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on child sexual exploitation?
Join the ZOE Japan team as we discuss old and new trends related to virtual CSAM.
INHOPE (https://inhope.org/) - INHOPE has more than 50 member hotlines around the world that receive, analyze and issue take-down notices for child sexual abuse material reported by the general public. If you see any potential child sexual abuse material on the internet or social media, please use this link to find a hotline in your country and submit the URL for further analysis.
Internet Hotline Center (https://www.internethotline.jp/) - The Internet Hotline Center (IHC) receives reports of potential child sexual abuse material from the general public, issues take down notices to platforms where the content is hosted, and transfers leads to the National Police Agency for further investigation. Their website supports English and Japanese languages.
11 Jul 2024
Episode 8 - Online sextortion: Are online perpetrators grooming your child?
Hotlines from all over the world are reporting the same thing...
A dramatic increase in online financial extortion/sextortion cases of children from all ages, economic backgrounds, cultures, languages and genders. Every child (0-18yrs) with access to a mobile device or the internet is at risk.
Join the ZOE Japan team to learn more about typical perpetrator tactics, tips on how to keep your child safe and much more!
Free resources for parents (https://www.eng.gozoe.jp/resources) - Download our free Internet Safety Guide and other resources for parents, no registration required.
Take It Down (https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ja/)
INHOPE (https://inhope.org/) - INHOPE has more than 50 member hotlines around the world that receive, analyze and issue take-down notices for child sexual abuse material reported by the general public. If you see any potential child sexual abuse material on the internet or social media, please use this link to find a hotline in your country and submit the URL for further analysis.
Internet Hotline Center (https://www.internethotline.jp/) - The Internet Hotline Center (IHC) receives reports of potential child sexual abuse material from the general public, issues take down notices to platforms where the content is hosted, and transfers leads to the National Police Agency for further investigation. Their website supports English and Japanese languages.
For more information or support, please visit eng.goZOE.jp or email us at info@goZOE.jp
3 Jun 2022
Episode 7 - Boys can be victims too!
Boys can be victims of sex trafficking too! In this episode, learn more about the cultural perspective that prevent boys from being recognized as survivors of child trafficking, and how perpetrators use online games to lure them.
To sponsor a prevention campaign on social media, please make a donation to eng.goZOE.jp/donate (https://www.eng.gozoe.jp/donations) and remember to specify SNS in the notes section.
Follow us on social media!
Website: eng.goZOE.jp
Twitter: ZOEJapan7
Instagram: zoe_japan
3 Aug 2021
Episode 6 - Internet Safety
Join Annerie, Yuri and our guest speaker, Chris Miyamoto, as we discuss ways in which online traffickers target children and teens, and share some practical tips for parents to keep children safe!
Be sure to download the free internet safety guide (https://www.eng.gozoe.jp/resources) from our website (also available in Japanese).
23 Apr 2021
Episode 5 - Compensated dating
Japan is infamous for its sexual objectification of school girls. Join us to learn more about the dangerous world of compensated dating, JK businesses and the profile of victims that are trapped in this industry.
Music video link: https://youtu.be/6xbRRC8dl1E (https://youtu.be/6xbRRC8dl1E)
ZOE Japan is part of ZOE International, a non-profit organization that works to end child trafficking in three ways: prevention, rescue, and restoration. Our goal is to rescue children from human traffickers and provide them with opportunities and support for a new path and future.
Through these podcast episodes, you will learn more about child trafficking in Japan, how to recognize vulnerable children and situations, and how you can collaborate with ZOE to reach every person and rescue every child.
We would love to hear from you! Please share your feedback via e-mail to info@gozoe.jp (mailto:info@gozoe.jp) in English or Japanese, or contact us through our various social media channels listed below.
For more information about ZOE, please go to:
Website: gozoe.org (http://gozoe.org/) or gozoe.jp (http://gozoe.jp/)
Instagram@zoe_Japan
Facebook@ZOEJapan
ZOE Japan
Reaching every person. Rescuing every child.
2 Mar 2021
Episode 4 - Child Pornography Part 2
2024 IMPORTANT NOTICE
There are two newer episodes available on this topic! Please listen to:
https://gozoe.jp/episode/episode-9-virtual-child-sexual-abuse-material/ (https://gozoe.jp/episode/episode-9-virtual-child-sexual-abuse-material/)
https://gozoe.jp/episode/online-sextortion-perpetrator-tactics-to-target-your-child-online/ (https://gozoe.jp/episode/online-sextortion-perpetrator-tactics-to-target-your-child-online/)
***********************
Join us for Part 2 of our discussion on child pornography in Japan. In this episode, we discuss simulated child pornography, for example in manga and anime, and also touch on erotic child photography, and child sex dolls.
ZOE Japan is part of ZOE International, a non-profit organization that works to end child trafficking in three ways: prevention, rescue, and restoration. Our goal is to rescue children from human traffickers and provide them with opportunities and support for a new path and future.
Through these podcast episodes, you will learn more about child trafficking in Japan, how to recognize vulnerable children and situations, and how you can collaborate with ZOE to reach every person and rescue every child.
We would love to hear from you! Please share your feedback via e-mail to info@gozoe.jp (mailto:info@gozoe.jp) in English or Japanese, or contact us through our various social media channels listed below.
For more information about ZOE, please go to:
Website: gozoe.org (http://gozoe.org/) or gozoe.jp (http://gozoe.jp/)
Instagram@zoe_Japan
Facebook@ZOEJapan
ZOE Japan
Reaching every person. Rescuing every child.
25 Nov 2020
Episode 3 - Child pornography, Part 1
2024 IMPORTANT NOTICE
There are two newer episodes available on this topic! Please listen to:
https://gozoe.jp/episode/episode-9-virtual-child-sexual-abuse-material/ (https://gozoe.jp/episode/episode-9-virtual-child-sexual-abuse-material/)
https://gozoe.jp/episode/online-sextortion-perpetrator-tactics-to-target-your-child-online/ (https://gozoe.jp/episode/online-sextortion-perpetrator-tactics-to-target-your-child-online/)
*****
Child pornography is illegal in Japan, but is still widely available. Join us in this episode where we will discuss some of the forms of child pornography and how Japan's definition is slightly different from many other countries. We will also look at sexting, revenge porn and other ways in which children are trapped online.
ZOE Japan is part of ZOE International, a non-profit organization that works to end child trafficking in three ways: prevention, rescue, and restoration. Our goal is to rescue children from human traffickers and provide them with opportunities and support for a new path and future.
Through these podcast episodes, you will learn more about child trafficking in Japan, how to recognize vulnerable children and situations, and how you can collaborate with ZOE to reach every person and rescue every child.
We would love to hear from you! Please share your feedback via e-mail to info@gozoe.jp (mailto:info@gozoe.jp) in English or Japanese, or contact us through our various social media channels listed below.
For more information about ZOE, please go to:
Website: gozoe.org (http://gozoe.org/) or gozoe.jp (http://gozoe.jp/)
Instagram@zoe_Japan
Facebook@ZOEJapan
ZOE Japan
Reaching every person. Rescuing every child.
25 Nov 2020
Episode 2 - Intro to child sex trafficking in Japan
Join us as we start to unveil child sex trafficking in Japan, by learning more about the most common forms of child sexual exploitation.
ZOE Japan is part of ZOE International, a non-profit organization that works to end child trafficking in three ways: prevention, rescue, and restoration. Our goal is to rescue children from human traffickers and provide them with opportunities and support for a new path and future.
Through these podcast episodes, you will learn more about child trafficking in Japan, how to recognize vulnerable children and situations, and how you can collaborate with ZOE to reach every person and rescue every child.
We would love to hear from you! Please share your feedback via e-mail to info@gozoe.jp (mailto:info@gozoe.jp) in English or Japanese, or contact us through our various social media channels listed below.
For more information about ZOE, please go to:
Website: gozoe.org (http://gozoe.org/) or gozoe.jp (http://gozoe.jp/)
Instagram@zoe_Japan
Facebook@ZOEJapan
ZOE Japan
Reaching every person. Rescuing every child.
24 Nov 2020
Episode 1 - Intro to ZOE Japan and human trafficking
Welcome to the first ever ZOE Japan podcast! Join us to learn more about modern day slavery, and how ZOE makes a difference in Japan.
ZOE Japan is part of ZOE International, a non-profit organization that works to end child trafficking in three ways: prevention, rescue, and restoration. Our goal is to rescue children from human traffickers and provide them with opportunities and support for a new path and future.
Through these podcast episodes, you will learn more about child trafficking in Japan, how to recognize vulnerable children and situations, and how you can collaborate with ZOE to reach every person and rescue every child.
We would love to hear from you! Please share your feedback via e-mail to info@gozoe.jp (mailto:info@gozoe.jp) in English or Japanese, or contact us through our various social media channels listed below.
For more information about ZOE, please go to:
Website: gozoe.org (http://gozoe.org/) or gozoe.jp (http://gozoe.jp/)
Instagram@zoe_Japan
Facebook@ZOEJapan
ZOE Japan
Reaching every person. Rescuing every child.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
369,222
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
10
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
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