Osaka’s yellow street slashes prostitution in red-light area by 90% in Japan
Police believe the striking colour makes the streetwalkers and their potential clients feel uncomfortably conspicuous
The unusual tactic in Osaka has led to a dramatic 90 per cent decrease in sex workers soliciting customers in a previously notorious alley, authorities said.
Last December, the 100-metre (330-foot) street in the city’s Taiyujicho neighbourhood located near the JR Osaka Station, was painted bright yellow and decorated with colourful artwork of marine creatures.
The tactic was based on nudge theory, a concept that suggests subtle changes in surroundings can influence behaviour.
Data from four daily police surveys of the alley revealed an average of 7.43 women soliciting customers daily before the paint job, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
A week after the street was painted, this number fell to zero, and two months later, the average was just 0.86, indicating a near 90 per cent decline.