TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday arrested the manager and another employee at a hostess club in Sumida Ward for employing minors, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Oct. 25).
Officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police took manager Koji Nakakarumai, 31, staff member Ichiro Goto, 28, and two others into custody for employing high school girls at hostess club Apricot in the Kinshicho entertainment area in violation of the adult-entertainment law.
Nakakarumai and Goto have denied the allegations, while the two others have admitted involvement.
According to officers familiar with the investigation, the club employs 11 girls aged 16 or 17 with three on the premises at any given time during operating hours. The club typically handles between 30 and 50 customers and since April of this year had collected 50 million yen in revenue.
Late at night on October 22, a first-year high school student was witnessed welcoming a customer at the club when officers entered to search the premises.
Officers also revealed that Nakakarumai was scouting for girls in the streets of red-light districts, including Kinshicho.
In July, the employment situation at the club came to light after officers received an anonymous tip.