Yoshiwara’s Long-Established High-End Soapland “Louvre” Raided: “A Reputable Establishment That Seemed Unlikely to Have Any Run-Ins with the Police”—Owner’s Arrest Sends “Wide Ripples”

A historic high-end establishment was unexpectedly raided

On June 24, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Division announced the arrest of Yoshihiro Miyashita (55), the owner of the Yoshiwara soapland “Louvre,” and five employees on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Act (providing a venue).

“The charges stem from the suspicion that on the night of the 22nd, the operator knowingly allowed two female employees in their 30s to use the establishment’s private rooms to engage in prostitution with customers in their 40s and 50s. It appears that three employees had already been arrested in the act on the 22nd, and rumors had begun circulating in some circles that ‘the Louvre had been raided.’The five have admitted to the charges, stating, ‘We knew it was a violation.’

The establishment, a high-end club with a total fee of 80,000 yen or more, had been operating in Yoshiwara for 43 years since 1983 and reportedly received an average of 22 customers per day. It is estimated to have generated 5.55 billion yen in revenue since Miyashita became the representative in 2018,” said a reporter from the social affairs section of a national newspaper.

As news of the raid spread, shockwaves rippled through the internet. What kind of establishment was the Louvre, to begin with?

“I’d never heard any bad rumors about the Louvre, and I thought it was ‘one of the most reputable, long-established establishments that would be least likely to be raided,’ so I was surprised. It was a sister club to the famous, long-established Yuzuki in Yoshiwara, and like Yuzuki, it offered an ‘open-style selection’ where women would come out to be seen in person.

If its sister club, Yuzuki, embodied a ‘Japanese’ style, the Louvre had a Western flair, allowing patrons to experience a true VIP atmosphere. From the entrance to the waiting room, the club was furnished with opulent and magnificent decor, and it was popular for providing dreamlike moments in rooms illuminated by gorgeous chandeliers.

“The companions on staff were an elite group, possessing beauty and skills that matched that atmosphere perfectly. They were thoroughly trained, especially in customer service etiquette, and the club had a reputation for providing the finest hospitality,” said Akira Ikoma, an adult entertainment journalist.

The reason this raid caused such a stir wasn’t just because the Louvre was a famous establishment beloved by many regulars. It was also because the circumstances behind the raid differed from the patterns we’ve seen frequently lately. An adult entertainment industry insider reveals the details.

A disgruntled former employee!?

“To begin with, soaplands are a gray area—the establishments merely provide a ‘venue,’ and operate under the guise of ‘free romance’ between the women and the customers. The police simply ‘turn a blind eye’ to this; if they wanted to, they could crack down on them at any time.

In fact, last year saw a series of raids on soaplands on the grounds that they ‘provided a venue while knowing it would be used for prostitution,’ but it’s a well-known fact that these cases were actually linked to recruitment agencies. However, the Louvre had no connection to such agencies.The police have revealed that this raid was the result of an investigation launched after they received a complaint last August, but the identity of the person who filed the complaint is causing quite a stir.”

On the 22nd, the day the Louvre was raided, a post like this appeared on X.

“The Yoshiwara soapland ‘Louvre’ has finally been raided—!!!!　 I’m the one who filed the criminal complaint against them for providing a venue for prostitution!〉

The account holder who posted this is reportedly a former employee. According to her post, she was verbally abused by suspect Miyashita and subsequently fired after she tried to take a day off due to a fever. She claims she filed the criminal complaint with the police last August with the intention of getting revenge someday.

“The fact that this was a criminal complaint filed by a former employee has shocked those involved. They say that if women and staff members dissatisfied with the establishment were to follow suit and file criminal complaints one after another, it could even threaten the industry’s very survival.Power harassment and sexual harassment are absolutely unacceptable. And while it may be true that the adult entertainment industry faces circumstances that make it difficult to speak out against such harassment, there would be no end to it if criminal complaints were filed every time such incidents occurred.

Not only the owners, but also the many employees who work diligently would lose their jobs and end up destitute every time this happens. The place that was their means of livelihood would vanish. Just as with the new adult video law and the issues surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, could it not be said that this incident has once again brought to light the precarious reality of sex work in contemporary Japan—an existence marginalized by society?” (ibid.)

One of Yoshiwara’s most renowned establishments, boasting a 43-year history, vanished due to a single accusation by a former employee—.