TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested nine individuals, including the managers of two affiliated soapland bathhouses in the Yoshiwara red-light district, on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Law, reports NHK (Oct. 7).
Over a five-year period, the two establishments generated nearly 5 billion yen in sales, police said.
Among those taken into custody are Yasukazu Miki, 54, manager of Aile D’ore, and Mitsuhiro Oguri, 53, manager of Danshaku. Both shops are located in Taito Ward. The suspects are accused of providing premises for female employees to engage in prostitution with male customers.
During police questioning, eight of the suspects, including Miki and Oguri, admitted to the allegations. One suspect denied the charges, telling investigators, “I didn’t know it was against the law.”
The investigation was sparked in April after police received a tip-off from an informant who claimed the businesses were utilizing illegal street scouts. This led authorities to raid the premises on Monday.
Police are now meticulously tracking the flow of the 4.7 billion yen in revenue, specifically investigating whether a portion of the massive profits was funneled to illegal scout networks.
