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Yokohama hostess club staffed with school girls in uniform raided for employment violations

Keiko of girl's bar Destino
Keiko of bar Destino, which was busted by Kanagawa police for employing minors

TOKYO (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Thursday busted a specialty hostess club in Yokohama staffed with high-school girls in uniform on illegal employment charges, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Apr. 18).

Officers from the Isezaki Police Station took Kiyoshi Hasegawa, 38, and Masami Otsuka, 50, both managers of so-called “girl’s bar” Destino, into custody for employing two high-school students, aged 16 and 18, to serve and chat with customers between November of last year and March — a violation of the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses regarding employment of minors.

A girl’s bar is a variation of a hostess club in which the club is legally registered as an after-hours, eating-and-drinking establishment so as to avoid more strict regulations under the adult-entertainment law. A bar or cafe appearance is provided while near night-club services are rendered.

Both suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations.

Destino, which began operations in the Nogecho entertainment area in June, reportedly collects between 1.2 million and 1.5 million yen each month.

The club has 40 girls registered on its books and paid out hourly wages of 1,000 yen or more. Its main appeal for customers is that the hostesses are attired in authentic school uniforms, police said.

Basic charges at Destino begin at 2,000 yen for 40 minutes. For additional fees, photo sessions with the hostesses are possible.