The trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is regarded as the most profitable (illegal) industry in the world. I place the word illegal in parens only because while the buying and selling of women is in fact a crime, it is business conducted 24/7 around the world, with full knowledge of authorities. Saddest fact about this topic is, more often than we would like to think, those whose job it is to protect these women, often utilize their services themselves. The U.S. State Department, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Human Rights Watch (HRW), just to name a few entities, all monitor and document human trafficking issues. All report, the issue of human trafficking is not becoming a crisis, rather has been a crisis for some time, and only growing worse. Consider our television sitcoms, our Vegas strips, and exploding porn industry. Nothing is taboo any longer; young women are desensitized to the point that public exhibitionism and sexual encounters with strangers are the norm. When that young woman’s body is found lying along a highway or back ally, no one is shocked. It is cultural, societal norm. Japayuki is a novel that follows a young Filipino woman, Risa, as she experiences life as a commodity. Her experiences are based on actual events. The incidents depicted, the abuse endured at the hands of bar owners, customers, and authorities are very real. As a Navy Corpsman, while serving with units deployed, I had the privilege of interviewing many of these japayukies. Their stories are the fabric of this book; their tears and pain the motivation to produce. This book is a promise kept. More concerning, today as a public high school teacher, I watch the behavior patterns of our 14 and 15 year old girls. They are functioning under the influence of societal norms; they are developing under the influence of our sitcoms and music. I do not believe for one minute that this work will not change that trend; this is but one story of what lies below the glitter and jovial presentation of promiscuity and exploitation. However, by reading this story, you will help us promote human dignity and worth. A portion of the proceeds will benefit further educational efforts. Finally, while Japayuki contains no photos or graphics, simply search our topic in Google images (or other image sites) to find plenty. Thank you for your consideration, please feel free to contact DhesBar Pubs with any questions.
