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Tokyo cops arrest yakuza for extortion of soapland

Yasushi Noguchi
Yasushi Noguchi

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Monday arrested an organized crime member for extorting a soapland bathhouse in Taito Ward, reports TBS News (July 13).

Yasushi Noguchi, a 59-year-old member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, and one other suspect are alleged to have demanded payments — specifically mikajimeryo, or protection money — totaling 50,000 yen in April and May.

Noguchi has reportedly denied the allegations, telling police he has nothing to say regarding the matter.

Over a 10-year period, the suspect is alleged to have collected three million yen in such payments from soapland operators.

The payments were derived from the illegal operations of the businesses, specifically the provision of prostitution.