Girls’ Bar Raid Reveals How the Nightlife Business Preys on Teenagers

The scene of the raid at a girls’ bar in Kabukichō

Around 8 p.m. on October 13, several investigators emerged from a building in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Kabukichō, carrying cardboard boxes in their arms. They loaded the boxes into a van parked out front. A few minutes later, a man appeared from the elevator, escorted by two officers. Dressed in a black shirt open at the chest and sporting bleached blond hair, he kept his head down, his face mostly hidden—though the faint upward curl of his mouth made it seem as if he were smirking.

That night, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Juvenile Division arrested Yuichiro Taira (29), the operator of the girls’ bar RaBBi2 in Kabukichō, on the spot for violating Japan’s Adult Entertainment Business Regulation Act. Taira, who has no fixed address, is accused of allowing female staff to entertain two male customers in their 40s across the counter without the legally required business license.

“According to police, a 16-year-old girl was working at the bar when it was raided,” a social affairs reporter explained. “She reportedly told Taira her age during her interview, but he said, ‘You can help out a little to gain experience. Just don’t mention you’re underage in front of customers.’ Police had already received a tip in July that a minor was working at the establishment. Taira has admitted the allegations, saying his judgment was careless.”

The police are continuing their investigation on suspicion that Taira also had a minor perform customer-service duties, which is prohibited by law.

Under Japanese regulations, minors under 18 are allowed to work at girls’ bars or concept cafés (con cafés) until 10 p.m. — but only if no customer entertainment takes place. Any business that allows such acts is legally classified as an adult entertainment venue, where employing minors is outright illegal.

Although girls’ bars and con cafés are technically registered as food and beverage establishments, if the staff engage in entertainment — such as flirting, drinking with customers, or sitting close — the venue becomes subject to adult entertainment licensing laws, and operating without that license is grounds for criminal charges, as in this case.

In Kabukichō, many girls’ bars and concept cafés reportedly employ underage workers, each with their own personal circumstances. According to one local bar manager, illegal customer service by minors is far from rare in the area.

I want to work in a bright, cute place

“I often hear stories like this—places that tell girls, ‘Don’t let the customers know,’ while secretly having them entertain guests,” said one bar manager. “Having minors on staff can actually set a venue apart from others. Some male customers prefer younger women, so these bars quietly let underage girls serve customers.”

Another hostess club employee pointed out that the mindset of young women has also changed — the barrier for minors working in nightlife has grown lower.

“Today’s minors often say things like, ‘I want to work in a bright, cute place,’ or ‘I want to be pampered and make easy money.’ On social media, many influencers show off champagne and gifts from generous regulars. After seeing that, some girls start thinking they could live like that too if they just try a little harder.

There are also places like men’s underground idol cafés or men’s concept cafés, where minors are allowed to enter. Many girls start working in nightlife to make quick cash so they can spend it there. They don’t realize how dangerous that world can be.”

There are even reports of malicious scouts secretly introducing minors to bars.

“Predatory scouts who only care about profit will find any place willing to hire a girl who wants to earn money, no matter the risk. Some falsify IDs so minors can pretend to be 18 and get hired. In some cases, the bar itself doesn’t even know the girl is underage,” said a source familiar with the scouting business.

The nightlife district remains a world where unscrupulous adults prey on vulnerable young girls.

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