"My body and mind are broken. I was not treated like a human being." These were the words of a 27-year-old woman arrested near Kabukicho's Okubo Park, an area known for street prostitution. Although he was later released without charge, his testimony revealed the disturbing reality behind the scenes.
Japanese journalists reported what happened. The woman worked at a hostess bar in Ikebukuro, which was managed by Suzuki Maoya, 39, and manager Tano Ayaka, 21. She said she endured daily violence and was forced into sex work under their control.
On October 15, Tokyo police arrested both suspects for violating Japan's anti-prostitution law. Between May and July, he allegedly forced the victim to wear a GPS tracker, kept her in a bar overnight, and repeatedly sent her wandering around Shinjuku.
Over three months, he was forced to meet with around 400 men. She was insulted daily with words like "ugly", which left her mentally and physically exhausted. He never received wages – every yen went directly into Suzuki's account. She only gave him 3,000 yen for the meal and also checked receipts to control his spending.
⬆ Tano Ayaka, arrested manager
The northern exit of Ikebukuro is filled with restaurants and love hotels. The hostess bar where the suspects worked was on the seventh floor of a mixed-use building just three minutes away from the station. It has been described in social media posts as an "early-morning hostess bar", open from the early morning.
When reporters visited a location of the chain after the arrest, employees appeared uneasy. One said, "Of course, we know about it. But day and night managers are not the same people. Media reports have hurt u, too. I met Suzuki once – he seemed small and mild-mannered. That's all I remember."
⬆ Tano Ayaka again
According to another restaurant owner familiar with the suspects, Suzuki seemed ordinary. "I drank with her a few times and went to her bar. She wasn't the drunk who caused trouble. I also knew the girl who was the victim. She started working there about a year ago, was quiet, not exactly suited to nightlife. I hadn't seen her for several months. I never thought she'd be forced to work on the street."
⬆ The victim
The public's attention was also drawn to Tano Ayaka's appearance. On social media, people commented on her arrest footage: "She looks stunning even in the candid shots," and "She may have broken the law, but she's so hot."
The restaurant owner said, "She was the bar's No. 1 hostess. She could drink good wine and work with energy. That bar already had high-quality staff, but she was on top. I'm sure she earned a lot. A year ago, there were four or five regular hostesses, but recently the number has declined. Strict management led to high turnover. Perhaps revenge was caused by falling sales, which forced the victim into prostitution."
