Girls Bar Manager Admits Forcing Employee into Prostitution

A 39-year-old girls bar manager admitted during his first trial on Thursday that he forced a female employee to engage in prostitution [1, 2].

The case highlights the intersection of digital surveillance and labor exploitation within Tokyo's nightlife districts. The use of GPS technology to monitor a worker's movements suggests a level of control that extends beyond typical employment boundaries.

Mao-ya Suzuki [1, 2], who managed a girls bar in Ikebukuro, faced charges of violating the Prostitution Prevention Law. During the proceedings on June 4, Suzuki said he generally admitted to the charges ^[2].

Prosecutors said Suzuki forced a woman in her 20s ^[2] to engage in prostitution at Okubo Park in Shinjuku. The prosecution said that Suzuki acted because the victim's earnings were too low, and he wanted to increase the bar's revenue ^[2].

To maintain control, Suzuki used a GPS device to monitor the woman's location ^[2]. Prosecutors said he also required her to report details, such as the names of hotels, through a group LINE message ^[2].

While some reports have suggested a much larger scale of exploitation involving hundreds of women, the current trial focused on the specific surveillance and coercion of one employee ^[2]. The court will now determine the sentencing based on the admitted charges and the nature of the surveillance used.