TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a top-earning Roppongi hostess and her executive boyfriend for cocaine possession, with the influencer making waves for flashing a mysterious hand sign to cameras from the back of a police car, reports the site for weekly tabloid Friday (Sep. 17).
Rino Tazawa, 27, who works under the professional name “Yamato Rino,” and company executive Kota Fukumoto, 28, were arrested in flagrante delicto at their shared apartment in Roppongi, Minato Ward, shortly before 4:00 p.m. on September 15. Police confiscated 0.4 grams of cocaine.
During the raid, officers also seized approximately 20 plastic baggies containing a white powder and a straw believed to be used for snorting the drug.
Tazawa has admitted to the allegations, reportedly telling investigators, “We used it together.” Fukumoto, however, denies the charges, claiming, “It is not mine.”
Drug habits
Police had been investigating Tazawa since earlier this year following tips regarding her drug habits.
The arrest took a turn when Tazawa was transferred to the Harajuku Police Station around 2:00 a.m. the following day. Seated in the back of a police vehicle, her face heavily concealed by a pulled-down cap and a mask, Tazawa noticed the press cameras. She raised her right hand and formed a bizarre gesture, staring directly into the camera lens with her left eye peeking through her fingers.
The gesture sparked intense speculation on social media. Observers debated whether she was discreetly raising her middle finger or flashing a “gang sign” popularized by Japanese rapper Kenny G, symbolizing an unyielding stance against authority.
Followers on X
Tazawa is a massive figure in Tokyo’s nightlife, boasting over 330,000 followers across X and Instagram. After moving to the renowned Roppongi club “Jungle Tokyo” in February, she reportedly generated a staggering 230 million yen in sales during her birthday event. She recently served as a judge on the YouTube hostess audition program LAST CALL.
According to Ryoji Takahama, a former narcotics officer, Tazawa’s legal troubles may only be beginning.
“Urine and hair tests will determine the extent of her habit,” Takahama explained. “If the 20 confiscated bags test positive for cocaine, depending on the quantity, she could face charges of possession for the purpose of profit. If that happens, there is a real possibility of a prison sentence.”
Cocaine arrests surging
Takahama noted that cocaine arrests have surged sevenfold over the past decade, heavily driven by young people in their 20s and 30s who view the drug as a social media status symbol or fashion statement.
Meanwhile, some crime journalists speculate the high-profile arrest may be a deliberate warning from law enforcement. The YouTube show Tazawa appeared on recently faced public backlash for popularizing the diabetes drug Mounjaro for off-label weight loss.
Police may be seeking to make an example out of the hostess to curb the unchecked influence of the nightlife industry online.
