41-Year-Old Man Accused of Attempted Extortion Over Protection Money Amid Urgent Gang-Related Issues

A man sitting in the back seat of a police escort vehicle, looking around defiantly. He is a gang member accused of attempting to extort protection money from an employee at a specialty products store.

On August 15, the Shibuya Police Department arrested two men, including Jun Kawai (41), an executive of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, on suspicion of attempted extortion. They are accused of trying to extort cash from an employee at a store in Shibuya, Tokyo. The store sells cookies and other products containing “CBD (cannabidiol),” a component extracted from the stems and seeds of cannabis plants. The suspects reportedly showed their tattoos and demanded money from the store, saying: 

“If you don’t pay the local protection fee, I can’t protect you no matter what happens.”

“You’re doing something close to illegal.”

 

Tapioca and Private Accommodations Also Used as Income Sources

A reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department speaks:

“The incident that led to the arrest happened on August 4. The store was reportedly extorted with threats like ‘We can’t have you doing whatever you want in our territory,’ but they didn’t pay the money. They quickly reported it to the police, and the case was uncovered. Products containing CBD are not illegal, but the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is requesting confirmation of their status. The police have not clarified the suspects’ statements.”

Why was the store dealing in CBD products targeted? It seems there are pressing circumstances within the gang.

“Police crackdowns have become stricter, and gangs can no longer survive by demanding protection money from traditional restaurants. They are probably searching for new income sources. Income sources are diversifying. A few years ago, trendy tapioca drinks became a revenue source. The store’s appearance was stylish, and customers didn’t know it was run by a gang. The employees probably didn’t realize they were working part-time at a front company for organized crime.

Recently, there are increasing cases of gangs getting involved in private accommodations, anticipating inbound tourism from overseas. Many foreign tourists probably want to stay with Japanese women. Although regulations on sex establishments are strict, combining private accommodations with prostitution makes for a profitable business. There are also cases where elderly people living in houses damaged by earthquakes or typhoons are charged high repair costs.”

The incident introduced at the beginning may be just one example of troubles caused by gangs searching for new sources of income.