Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tokyo cops bust 2-chome gay bar for licensing violations

Takayo Ogasawara of bar Discover
Takayo Ogasawara of bar Discover
TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Monday announced the bust of a bar in the 2-chome gay quarter of Shinjuku Ward for licensing violations, reports TBS News (March 10).

On March 5, officers from the Yotsuya Police Station, took Takayo Ogasawara, the 32-year-old manager of bar Discover, into custody for providing customers with entertainment, such as the use a karaoke machine, after 1 a.m. without a proper license under the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses.

Ogasawara has reportedly admitted to the allegations, telling police that he violated the law to boost sales.

According to TV Asahi (March 10), Discover has collected more than 12 million yen in sales since opening in May of last year.

The 2-chome area includes approximately 450 bars and restaurants catering to primarily gay clientele. Police have recently been intensifying patrols in the area after receiving a large number of complaints about unlicensed establishments.