TOKYO (TR) – As a part of an ongoing sweep of illegal massage parlors, Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday busted an operation in Chiyoda Ward for licensing violations, reports TBS News (Apr. 2).
Officers took Kiyoshi Numazawa, the 43-year-old manager of Cute, an establishment promoting itself as a therapeutic salon, for allegedly offering customers sexual services as administered by masseuses in private rooms — a violation of the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses.
Numazawa has reportedly denied the allegations. “I received permission to offer sex,” the suspect is quoted by police.
According to police, Cute, which is located near JR Kanda Station, generates 1.2 million yen in revenue each month.
Cute is located on the ninth floor of a multi-tenant building. In order to evade detection, the elevator did not stop on that floor, and customers entering the premises were first monitored via a security camera.
Since last year, Tokyo police have now raided a total of seven parlors inside the same building as Cute, according to Nippon Television Network. Following the various arrests, the suspects have resumed operations in the building by registering the business in different names.