TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a Yamaguchi-gumi affiliated yakuza executive and an adult video (AV) actress after cocaine was discovered in a hotel room last month, reports News Post Seven (Aug. 26).
The suspects have been identified as 32-year-old Shota Sugawara and 27-year-old Seika Abe, who performs in adult videos under the stage name “Serina Arata.”
According to investigative sources, police raided a hotel room in Toshima Ward on July 14. Officers found the pair together on a bed and discovered approximately 0.7 grams of cocaine hidden under the sheets and on a bedside shelf. Police believe the two were consuming the drugs inside the room.
During questioning on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law, Sugawara admitted to the allegations. Abe, however, denied the charges, telling investigators, “I did not use it.”
Tokuryu syndicate
Sugawara had already been heavily marked by Police. The gangster is believed to be the head of a tokuryu syndicate, whose members communicate anonymously via social media.
Between early 2024 and July, he had been arrested multiple times on suspicion of theft, preparation for robbery and orchestrating tokushu sagi (specialized fraud) scams.
Detectives had been tracking his frequent stays at the Toshima Ward hotel during their ongoing fraud investigation, waiting for the right moment to swoop in.
Synchronized swimming
The arrest has cast a spotlight on Abe, an acquaintance of the yakuza boss who boasts a highly unusual background. Hailing from Otaru City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Abe began synchronized swimming at the age of three and was once celebrated as a local prodigy. She later transitioned to competitive swimming, competing at the inter-high school level and swimming for Yamanashi Gakuin University before an injury forced her to abandon her 17-year athletic career.
Seeking a new path, Abe debuted in the AV industry in 2021, drawing significant attention due to her athletic pedigree. However, she struggled to achieve top-tier success. After changing agencies three times, she recently rebranded herself as Serina Arata, taking on work as a ring girl, gravure model, and appearing in overseas video productions.
“She had a ‘good girl’ image in the industry, and she really doesn’t seem like the type to commit a crime,” an adult entertainment industry insider said. “She bounced between agencies not because she caused trouble, but because she didn’t have much work as an actress. It’s a unique industry where having a good figure alone doesn’t guarantee you’ll sell.”
Police arecontinuing its investigation to determine how the former athlete crossed paths with the alleged crime ring boss and how they obtained the illegal drugs.
