SAITAMA (TR) – Sex establishments masquerading as salons offering so-called “ear cleaning” services have come under fire in Saitama Prefecture, according to the Asahi Shimbun (June 11).
On June 10, Saitama Prefectural Police busted two such operations in Saitama City and arrested three managers for providing adult services similar to that found in a commercial sex (fuzoku) establishment. It is believed that these arrests are the first in what will be a larger nationwide crackdown.
According to police officials, one manager, Michiaki Nishizawa, 41, also ran similar “one shot cleaning” businesses in Omiya and Urawa.
In July 2005, the Ministry of Health advised the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that removal of ear wax was not regarded as medical treatment, which led to a rapid increase in shops offering such services in the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya metropolitan areas.