20-07-2025
Tokyo cops continue crackdown on ‘girl's bar' businesses
TOKYO (TR) – Four corporations have been referred to prosecutors for operating entertainment businesses without licenses, a nationwide first under the revised Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses, reports TBS News (July 11).
The so-called 'girl's bar' establishments operated by the corporations in Shibuya and Shinjuku wards and Tachikawa and Machida cities are suspected of having female employees entertain male customers without obtaining a license to operate an entertainment and amusement business.
As well, the directors of each of the four companies were arrested for violating the adult-entertainment law.
It is alleged that the four failed gain permission to operate between June 28 and 29 from the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission.
According to police, Bar Qualia in Machida continued to operate without a license even after receiving administrative guidance in April. The establishment is believed to have made sales of about 150 million yen over the two-year period through May. Police raided Bar Qualia in Machida City late last month (X)
The fundamental reason for the existence of girl's bar establishments is to work around stringent adult-entertainment law. The goal is to offer nearly identical services as a hostess club while maintaining an official status as an eating-and-drinking operation.
That work around might not work any longer.
Late that month, police arrested 13 people, including the managers of eight girl's bars in Tokyo, including the four establishments, on suspicion of violating the same law.
This is the first time that a corporation has been cited under the revised adult-entertainment law, which came into force on June 28.
Under the revised law, operators of unlicensed businesses face imprisonment of up to five years, an increase by three years over the previous version. As well, the maximum fine increased from 2 million yen to 10 million yen.
In the future, police plan to continue to step up its crackdown.
