TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Thursday announced the arrest of two organized crime members over the extortion of a massage parlor in Machida City, reports TBS News (July 23).
Kenji Tezuka, a 44-year-old member of the Inagawa-kai, and fellow gangster Shingo Ota, 32, are alleged to have demanded monthly payments — specifically mikajimeryo, or protection money — of 20,000 yen each from the 39-year-old female manager of the parlor, located near JR Machida Station, after its opening in May.
Tezuka has reportedly denied the allegations while Ota has refused to offer comment.
In attempting to collect the payments, the suspects repeatedly telephoned the parlor and made personal visits, according to the Sankei Shimbun (July 23). The day after Ota made one such visit, the manager consulted with a help line that offers assistance in such cases.
According to police, Tezuka is believed to have made similar demands to other parlors in the same area.
