Latest news with #LawRegulatingAdultEntertainmentBusinesses
Tokyo Reported
20-07-2025
- Business
- Tokyo Reported
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.
Tokyo Reported
17-07-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Nagoya bar host accused of threatening female customer over unpaid bills
AICHI (TR) – Aichi Prefectural Police have arrested a 36-year-old bar host in Nagoya for allegedly threatening a female customer in order to collect unpaid bills, reports Nippon News Network (July 16). This is the first time a host has been arrested over the collection of unpaid bills since a revision to the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses came into effect on June 28. The suspect is Yasuo Oishi, who known as 'Akanishi Aijin,' the owner of the host club Asteria in Shinsakae, Naka Ward. Yasuo Oishi (X) According to the police, Oishi allegedly barged into the home of the 29-year-old female customer on July 8 in an attempt to collect approximately 1 million yen in unpaid bills from her As he stood at the front door, he threatened her. 'Hey, hey!' he yelled, according to police. When questioned, he denied the charges. 'I don't want to say anything right now,' he told police. Since early June, Oishi had sent messages to the woman on social media, urging her to 'pay back the unpaid amount in one lump sum.' Unscrupulous host clubs have become a problem due to the practice of forcibly collecting large amounts of unpaid bills from customers. The revised adult-entertainment law came into effect last month to strengthen enforcement. According to police, this is the first time that a host anywhere in Japan has been arrested for the newly banned practice of threatening customers in order to get them to pay.
Tokyo Reported
30-06-2025
- Tokyo Reported
‘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.
