Visual interpretation inspired by "エッチなお仕事なぜいけないの？” by Usagi Nakamura

This is not an official book cover. It is a personal tribute artwork inspired by What's Wrong with Sex Work? (『エッチなお仕事なぜいけないの？』), edited by Usagi Nakamura—one of my favorite Japanese authors.

Depicting women involved in sex work has long been a theme I wanted to explore in my own art. I previously created three drawings on the subject as part of my SEX SELLS series, focusing on women working in Japan's sex industry. While researching the topic further through books, interviews, and online videos, this was the book that left the strongest impression on me.

I try to approach sex work from a neutral perspective. In this book, editor Usagi Nakamura brings together and curates conversations with writers, sex workers, and people connected to the industry, examining in depth the question: "What's wrong with sex work?" I found it an incredibly thought-provoking and compelling read.

There is a slang expression in English, "sipping tea," which means watching drama, gossip, or controversy unfold from a safe distance. As someone with no direct connection to Japan's sex industry, reading books like this and watching YouTube channels created by women who work within it sometimes feels a little like peeking into a world I was never meant to see. That feeling inspired the image of a girl in a headscarf sipping bubble tea through a straw.

Until relatively recently, sex work was largely hidden from public view—anonymous, discreet, and existing on the margins of society. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly visible through the internet. As anonymity fades and more women speak openly about their experiences, sex workers have become public figures in their own right, and the industry itself has become the subject of greater public scrutiny and debate.
I don't pretend to have any definitive answers. This illustration is simply my own reflection on the subject, created with respect, curiosity, and appreciation for the women whose lives and experiences inspired it.