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Gangster arrested for employing 13-year-old at Osaka club

Officers raided 4 girl's bars in Asahi Ward
Officers raided 4 girl’s bars in Asahi Ward
TOKYO (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police on Wednesday arrested a member of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group for employing minors at specialty hostess clubs under his management in Asahi Ward, reports the Asahi Shimbun (July 31).

In raids of four “girl’s bar” establishments that began Tuesday evening, officers found 10 minors, with one being a 13-year-old middle school student, entertaining male customers.

Officers took gang member Tatsuya Kajiwara, 25, and three other suspects into custody for violating the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses regarding the employment of youths.

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.

Between January and May, Kajiwara is alleged to have employed a 16-year-old girl at girl’s bar Ran, which is located in Higashi Nodacho. Upon announcing her resignation, the gangster threatened to fine the girl, who then fled to an acquaintance and alerted authorities.

Kajiwara has allegedly admitted to the allegations.