I have a slightly different view in that I think that the seedier sex side of Japan gets too much attention whereas the seedier crime and corruption stuff doesn't get enough. Most Westoids have probably heard more about non-existent (or at least incredibly niche) used panty vending machines than the well documented history of Japanese PMs meeting with heads of Yakuza organizations.

The average Westoid is way more interested in fetishizing and sexualizing Japanese women than any of the other structural dysfunctions of Japanese society. "Weird Japan" stories get more clicks than actual journalism about major political scandals.