TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police earlier this week arrested the principals involved in the sale and copying of large quantities of uncensored adult video DVDs in Toshima Ward’s Ikebukuro district, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Sept. 30).
Yoshitaka Iwaki, 45, verbally touted the sale of uncensored discs copied electromagnetically from a store he operated in the Ikebukuro area. A signboard with photos allowed customers to select discs they wished to purchase. Eiji Imai, 40, presided over a nearby apartment where the discs were stored.
During a search of the premises on Wednesday, officers seized approximately 50,000 discs and copying equipment. Both Iwaki and Imai were taken into custody.
Nikkan Sports reports that Iwaki opened the shop in July and had brought in roughly 10 million yen in revenue. Discs were being sold for 1,000 yen per copy.
By law, films available in Japan are required to have genitalia properly censored. Further, changes in legislation made in July regarding the sale of uncensored DVDs copied electromagnetically were enacted to prohibit sales. Over the past two months, 40 shops have been shut down.