Japan struggles to curb ticket scalping market despite crackdown

Japan’s ticket scalping problem continues to grow despite laws, lawsuits, and official resale platforms. Concert and sports tickets are still being resold online at extremely high prices, sometimes many times above face value. Event organizers are worried that the cost of fighting illegal reselling may eventually be passed on to ordinary fans through higher ticket prices.

One young woman shared how she became involved in ticket reselling. She first bought tickets for personal use but began reselling them when she could not attend events. Over time, she started selling tickets regularly, sometimes at up to ten times their original price, and used the profits to buy more tickets. She said she thought it was a legitimate activity and only later realized it was illegal after being contacted by organizers and paying a settlement.

Although Japan introduced a law in 2019 banning repeated resale of tickets above face value without permission, illegal resale still continues. Authorized resale platforms exist to allow fair transfers at face value, but fees and limitations remain. Companies and organizers continue to take legal action, but officials warn that if scalping persists, the added costs of enforcement may ultimately be passed on to fans.

Edited using generative AI tools.  
Source : https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260618/p2g/00m/0na/025000c

Comprehension

What problem is the article mainly about in Japan’s entertainment industry?
How did the woman in her 20s become involved in ticket reselling?
Why did she say she continued reselling tickets?
What law did Japan introduce in 2019 regarding ticket resale?
Why are organizers worried that fans may end up paying more in the future?

Discussion

Do you think ticket scalping should be treated as a serious crime? Why or why not?
Is it ever acceptable to resell tickets above face value? Explain your view.
How can technology help reduce illegal ticket reselling?
Should artists or event organizers control all ticket resale platforms?
Why do you think people are willing to pay much higher prices for tickets?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of official resale systems?
Do you think the woman in the story was aware she was doing something wrong? Why?
How would you feel if you could not buy tickets because of scalpers?

Vocabulary

Scalping – buying tickets and reselling them at a much higher price
Resale – selling something again after buying it
Face value – the original price printed on a ticket or item
Settlement – an agreement to resolve a legal dispute, often involving payment
Unauthorized – not officially allowed or approved
Countermeasure – an action taken to prevent or stop a problem
Legislation – laws that are officially made and passed
Undermined – weakened or damaged something over time or indirectly