Kabukicho Sees Near-Daily Quiet Crackdowns Under Ongoing Enforcement Efforts

Undisclosed crackdowns happening on a daily basis

In Kabukicho, Shinjuku—Japan’s largest nightlife district—police arrests targeting illegal scouts and street solicitors have been occurring one after another. This movement has even begun to be referred to as the “Second Clean-Up Operation” or “Silent Crackdown.” What is happening behind the scenes?

In January, the Metropolitan Police Department established a new special task force targeting the “Kōhei Family,” a faction of the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate, which is believed to be linked to “Tokuryū” (anonymous, fluid crime groups). Furthermore, from April 1, the command structure was strengthened by upgrading the head of operations from the head of the Criminal Investigation Division to the Deputy Superintendent General. By placing a senior official close to the top of the organization in charge, the aim is to enable cross-departmental coordination and strengthen enforcement.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, members of Tokuryū groups previously arrested have been linked to crimes involving the Kōhei Family. These include a wide range of offenses such as special fraud, investment scams using social media, romance scams, robbery, theft, illegal drug distribution, and scouting for illegal sex industry operations.

According to a source familiar with Kabukicho, someone is being arrested almost every day in the area now.

“Around here, street solicitors and scouts are being arrested by undercover police officers, but it is not being reported at all. Among the scouts and solicitors, rumors are constantly circulating like so-and-so got arrested or that guy disappeared without anyone noticing. People are gradually disappearing one by one, so it is being called a silent crackdown in Kabukicho.”

Crackdowns in the entertainment district have reportedly become even more intense since April this year. A man in his 30s, identified as A, who works as a street solicitor, says: “I’ve been doing this here for about seven years, but recently two to three people are getting arrested every day. I’ve even seen people being taken down right in front of me. They’re all street solicitors and scouts. Police are everywhere. There seem to be a large number of plainclothes officers deployed. I thought it might be because the fiscal year changed in April and things got stricter, but it also feels like something else is going on.”

Is the purpose to dismantle the Kōhei Family?

Multiple people claim to have witnessed police crackdowns, and in all cases they say plainclothes officers were involved. These undercover officers’ behavior has also reportedly changed compared to before. A man in his 30s identified as B, a member of a scout group, testifies:

“We used to share information among scouts about the typical patterns of undercover police, but the current officers don’t match those patterns anymore. Previously, it was standard to see two men in suits and jackets, but that no longer applies.

Now there are officers wearing casual clothing like tracksuits on top and sweatpants on the bottom, and some even have dyed blond hair. At a glance, we can’t distinguish them from us. It seems they are thoroughly investigating scouts and street solicitors, and some officers even casually chat with scouts to gather information.”

Plainclothes officers are blending into the streets while waiting for opportunities to make arrests.

Is the increase in crackdowns connected to the Metropolitan Police Department’s full-scale efforts to dismantle the Kōhei Family? From a man in his 40s, referred to as C, who collects protection money from illegal street operators in Kabukicho, we were able to hear his account. He says it is not unrelated.

“The ones being arrested are scouts and street solicitors who are backed by organized crime groups. That said, there are many gangs and semi-criminal groups involved behind the people operating on the streets of Kabukicho, so it is not surprising whoever gets arrested. This is just my personal impression, but I feel that many of those arrested in this crackdown are connected to the Kōhei Family. People involved in the underground scene in Kabukicho say the police are serious this time.

Our group pays about 50,000 yen per month for the right to operate on the streets, but the Kōhei Family’s affiliates probably have to pay higher protection fees. It seems the lower-level members are under a lot of financial pressure. Because of that, aggressive solicitation is becoming more noticeable, and plainclothes officers are catching and arresting them as a result.”

However, according to C, these crackdowns are not very effective.

“The people being arrested are the lowest-level members. Even with all these arrests, things are not really a problem for them at the moment. However, if police surveillance continues for more than half a year, the situation will change. If newly recruited semi-gang members are sent out to the streets only to be immediately arrested, eventually there will be no one left.”

Cracking down on illegal and malicious activities by antisocial forces is certainly beneficial for the general public. However, if enforcement is only temporary, things tend to return to normal quickly. Just how serious is the police’s real effort?

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