Japan: 'Toyoko Kids' struggle to survive on city streets

Teenagers have banded together to escape abuse and neglect but find themselves drawn toward drugs and sex work — with pitifully little support available for the most vulnerable.

Suzuka and Nipa have adopted the all-black attire that is the unofficial uniform of the Toyoko Kids, the Japanese capital’s tribe of young runaways.

Nipa arrived in the Kabukicho red-light district of Tokyo in January and was quickly taken in by the group. Suzuka arrived in April.

Like most of the girls in this loose-knit clan of a couple of hundred teens and 20-somethings, they have turned to sex work to get by.

Otherwise, they sleep on the streets or at friends’ apartments.

When the weather is too bad, they club together to share a cheap hotel for the night.