Drink While Watching a Bathing Scene: Shocking Practices of Shibuya Bar Were Exposed Years Ago

Female employee takes off her bathrobe

A man, the owner of a bar in Shibuya, Tokyo, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of violating the Entertainment Business Control Law for having female employees serve customers without a license.

The arrested suspect, Wilbert Kelvin Carrasco Diaz (40), a Peruvian national, was announced on May 1. On the night of April 29, Carrasco allegedly made a woman in her 20s, who worked at his bar “MAISON SWEET DREAM” located in Dogenzaka, Shibuya Ward, sit next to male customers and entertain them.

“A woman in her 20s reportedly wore a bathrobe. At first glance, the interior appeared to have only counter seats, but in the back there was a bathtub surrounded by luxurious leather sofas forming a ‘VIP seat.’

Normally, the all-you-can-drink rate is 5,000 yen for 50 minutes, but if you order the ‘VIP course’ for 13,000 yen for 60 minutes, a female employee would enter the store’s jet bath wearing a swimsuit, and customers could drink while watching her from the VIP seats. Carrasco is said to have claimed that since opening the bar in 2020, it has generated at least 100 million yen in sales.” (Social affairs reporter)

In fact, this bar was featured in “Weekly SPA!” in 2022. According to the article, the female employees at the time wore lingerie and were described as freelance talents not affiliated with any agency. The owner, who is also involved in the gravure business, explained that the talents worked there so they could earn additional income while pursuing their activities.

Carrasco insists that his business operations are proper

“‘All the costumes are our own. We have about 50 outfits in total, and I love lingerie so much that I even wear it at home,’ said ○○-chan, a cast member. While working at the bar, she mainly focuses on posting gravure photos on social media and live streaming. Today, she was rocking a black bondage-style outfit,” (from Weekly SPA!).

The article did not mention the bathing service, but it did refer to the jet bath, noting that the owner spent about 3 million yen on it as a point of pride.

Carrasco told the Shibuya Police that he believes he is operating legally and cannot accept the arrest.

“Normally, bars do not require an entertainment business permit. However, if there is customer entertainment like in a cabaret club, such a permit is required. Girls bars and concept cafes operate in a ‘gray’ area legally; if they do not obtain the entertainment business permit, they can sometimes be judged as illegal.

Strictly speaking, chatting continuously with a particular customer or clapping along to the customer’s karaoke can be considered entertainment service. In many cases where arrests were made, employees sat outside the counter at customers’ seats or provided obscene services.

In a girls bar in Ikebukuro busted in 2023, employees dressed as bunny girls were clearly visible through the glass from outside. While their visibility was an issue, the problem was also that they offered an extreme service of allowing tips to be tucked into their cleavage,” (adult industry writer).

It seems Carrasco’s business was not quite the proper operation he claimed.