Kabukicho Prostitution Ring Busted: Four Arrested for Evading Police with social Media Network
TOKYO – In a significant crackdown on illegal activities in tokyo’s bustling Kabukicho entertainment district, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of four women on July 24. The women, aged between 20 and 26, are accused of soliciting customers for prostitution and employing complex tactics to evade law enforcement.
The suspects, residing in Shinjuku Ward, toda City in Saitama Prefecture, and other areas, allegedly operated on the streets of Kabukicho between May and June, targeting potential clients for prostitution.Authorities report that all four have admitted to the charges.
To circumvent detection,the women reportedly developed a keen eye for plainclothes officers,avoiding men exhibiting certain characteristics such as specific sneaker brands,”cauliflower ears,” or an “awkwardly unfashionable” style of dress.Further investigation revealed a clandestine “communication network” established by the suspects and 25 other women on a social media platform. this network, primarily focused around Okubo Park in Kabukicho, served as a hub for sharing real-time police patrol details and photographs of investigators, enabling them to evade crackdowns. One suspect is reported to have amassed approximately 110 million yen (roughly $748,000) over a two-year period, starting in July 2023.
Between October 2024 and June 2025, the MPD received 159 calls related to soliciting in the Kabukicho area, with 49 of these calls directly linked to the four arrested women. Complaints ranged from wallet theft after hotel visits with women to outright payment without receiving promised services. Notably, 11 of these incidents involved foreign nationals.The MPD has observed a rise in foreign tourists being drawn to Kabukicho, with some reportedly learning about prostitution opportunities through social media. One individual confessed that approximately 80% of her clients were foreign visitors, a demographic she actively sought out while attempting to avoid police presence.
In response to the escalating issues, the MPD has intensified patrols and crackdowns in the vicinity of Okubo Park as October 2024. The first half of the current year saw 75 women apprehended for soliciting, a stark increase from the 35 arrests made during the same period last year.
