TSUKUBA (TR) – Ibaraki Prefectural Police on Sunday announced that an organized crime member is wanted for questioning following a stabbing death at a hostess club in Tsukuba City the day before, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Jan. 20).
On Saturday evening, the gang member entered Club Happiness, located in the Amakubo area, and stabbed shipping company employee Koji Ueno three times with a 20-centimeter kitchen knife. The victim, 42, who was seated in a lounge seat, suffered wounds to his chest. He was confirmed dead at a local hospital on Sunday morning.
Ueno entered Club Happiness by himself at around 10:00 p.m. At the time, there were five or six groups of customers and several employees.
About 30 minutes before the incident, an eyewitness observed the victim arguing with the alleged attacker, described as being in his 40s and wearing a beige jacket, in front of another establishment.
According to the Web site for Club Happiness, charges begin at 4,000 yen for the first hour of service. On an average weekend night, there are 20 hostesses working.