February 4th. On the 2nd local time, the Japanese Metropolitan Police Department arrested 3 staff members of a nightclub in Tokyo.
They were suspected of closing the shop on the 1st and trying to hinder the police from entering the search.
That night, they confronted the police for about 4 hours, and the police finally had to use an axe to break in.
According to a report from Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun on the 3rd, “open the door” and “don’t resist.” Police warnings echoed on the streets of Kabukicho in Tokyo in the early hours of the morning.
After 34 Japanese special police officers confronted the staff of the nightclub “Hanayin” for about 4 hours, they finally chose to use an axe to destroy the store door.
After entering the store, the police found that although it was late at night, there were still 7 staff members, 15 escorts and 13 male customers in the store.
The police arrested 6 people including the shop owner on suspicion of violating the “Customs and Business Law.”
Japan’s “Customs Business Law” and Tokyo Metropolitan Government stipulate that nightclubs operate before 1 am, but “Hanayin” is open until 5 am for a long time.
The Japanese Metropolitan Police Department requested the store to make rectification twice in May and November 2020, but received no response.
After the state of emergency was restarted in Tokyo, the local government asked catering companies to advance the end of business to 8 pm, but Huayin still refused to cooperate.
The Japanese magazine “Friday” stated that many nightly shops in Kabukicho did not comply with the pandemic prevention regulations.
“Hanayin” is a well-known store in Kabukicho, and it has a great influence in the industry.
The police’s strict measures against “Hanayin” is bound to deter other night-time shops.
