30-06-2025
‘I borrowed my boyfriend's shirt' – Cops enforce revised law amid latest sex biz workaround
TOKYO (TR) – The fundamental reason for the existence of so-called 'girl's bar' establishments is to work around stringent rules in the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses.
The goal is to offer nearly identical services as a hostess club while maintaining an official status as an eating-and-drinking operation.
The crucial difference is entertainment — as in, a business must ensure that the authorities believe customers are not being entertained.
It seems, however, proprietors were pushing their luck. A revised version of the law came into effect on June 28. As a result, Tokyo Metropolitan Police initiated its first crackdowns on girl's bars over a two-day period starting that day, reports Fuji News Network (June 30).
During the raids, police cited seven businesses and made 12 arrests in Shibuya, Machida, Shimbashi, Yotsuya, Kabukicho and Ueno. Among those arrested was Daisuke Nishiyama, the 32-year-old owner of Dice Bar, a girl's bar in Shibuya. Daisuke Nishiyama (X) 'I borrowed my boyfriend's shirt'
Nishiyama is suspected of having female employees entertain customers without a license, such as by having them chat with customers.
'I entertained people without permission, hoping it would boost sales,' he told police in admitting to the allegations.
The bar's concept is 'I borrowed my boyfriend's shirt,' which includes the female staff wearing oversized men's shirts.
Located in the Dogenzaka area of Shibuya, the bar had received warnings three times in the past but continued to operate without a license under the adult-entertainment law. Since opening in October 2022, Dice Bar has accumulated sales of approximately 160 million yen.
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.
