Japan prosecutes exploitation cases at Shizuoka host club and Tokyo girls bar

Police in Shizuoka City arrested a 22‑year‑old host club employee after he pressured a female customer to order expensive drinks, leading her to spend tens of thousands of yen despite being told the cost would be about 10,000 yen. The arrest marks the first application in Shizuoka of the 2025 amendment to the Entertainment Business Act that criminalises coercion of customers into ordering or paying for items.

In Tokyo, prosecutors at the Ikebukuro district court sought an eight‑year prison term and a 300,000‑yen fine for a 40‑year‑old girls‑bar manager charged with violating the Anti‑Prostitution Law, forcing a young female employee to engage in prostitution and committing sexual assault. The defendant apologized in court; sentencing is scheduled for 9 September.

Both cases highlight intensified legal action against exploitative practices in Japan’s nightlife industry.