Tokyo police arrest ex-host over demand that client work in sex industry to pay bills
In short
Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department arrested Takuto Takeoka (竹岡拓人), 27, a former host at a Kabukicho host club, on suspicion of demanding that a female customer work in a sex-industry shop to pay her club bills. A scout, Takahiro Fukushige (福重昂宏), 35, was also arrested for introducing her to a shop in Chiba Prefecture. Several outlets say it is the department's first case under the revised Fuei Law.
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The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Takuto Takeoka (竹岡拓人), 27, of Shinjuku Ward, a former host at the Kabukicho host club "AXEL by ACQUA", on suspicion of violating the Fuei Law (a prohibited act). Police allege he demanded that a female customer work in a sex-industry shop so that she could pay her host club bills. Asahi and Tokyo Shimbun cited investigative sources, while Mainichi said the department's Security Division announced the arrest on 16 October. Several outlets say he went by the name "Eren" (エレン) as a host. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 14 ]
Police also arrested Takahiro Fukushige (福重昂宏), 35, a company officer from Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act by introducing the woman to a fashion health shop in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei say he belongs to a sex-industry scout group. Takeoka is staying silent under questioning, while Mainichi quotes Fukushige as saying he was scouting and thinks the allegation is correct. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
According to police, as reported by Yomiuri, Takeoka met the woman in July last year while hiding his job and posing as someone from the IT industry. He later told her he was a host and took her to his club. Asahi says the woman met him through a matching app. She made about eight visits and paid about 3.8 million yen in total, including by borrowing from consumer lenders. Mainichi gives the figure as 3,834,000 yen and says she also used up savings and borrowed 2 million yen. When she said she could not go to the club any more, he allegedly asked her to work in a sex-industry shop. [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
The outlets quote Takeoka as saying there was a health job and that if sales went up he could quit hosting early and use the money for trips together, so she should try hard for now. Sankei and Mainichi also quote him on saving money to live together. The alleged demand was made on 12 November last year, and Yomiuri says Fukushige introduced her to the Funabashi shop on the 23rd. Asahi says she went to an interview at the shop and began working. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 14 ]
Asahi says the woman consulted Shinjuku police in February this year. The revised Fuei Law took effect in June 2025 and bans such demands. Asahi, Tokyo Shimbun, Sankei and Nikkei report this as the Metropolitan Police Department's first arrest under it, while Mainichi says it is the first time the law has been applied to a person connected with Kabukicho hosts. Police suspect similar demands were made of other women, and Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei say they are investigating whether Takeoka introduced other customers to Fukushige. [ 1 , 5 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
In a follow-up, TBS NEWS DIG said another woman who claims similar harm told JNN she was told to work every day. NHK reported that the former host asked a customer to help him become number one by working in a sex-industry shop and contributing to sales. [ 11 , 13 ]
Why it matters
Outlets describe the case as the first enforcement by the Metropolitan Police Department of the ban on such demands, added by the Fuei Law amendment that took effect in June 2025. Police are also looking into whether other women were treated the same way.
Key facts
- The Metropolitan Police Department arrested former host Takuto Takeoka (竹岡拓人), 27, of Shinjuku Ward, on suspicion of violating the Fuei Law (prohibited act) by demanding that a female customer work in a sex-industry shop to pay host club bills. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 8 , 14 ]
- Takahiro Fukushige (福重昂宏), 35, a company officer from Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act for introducing the woman to a shop in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 14 , 15 ]
- The alleged demand was made on 12 November 2025, when the woman was in her 20s. [ 8 , 14 ]
- Police say the woman met Takeoka on a matching app and paid about 3.8 million yen over eight visits to the club. [ 2 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
- Takeoka is staying silent under questioning, while Fukushige has admitted the allegation. [ 7 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
- Asahi, Tokyo Shimbun, Sankei and Nikkei report that this is the Metropolitan Police Department's first arrest under the revised Fuei Law, in force since June 2025. [ 1 , 5 , 8 , 15 ]
- Police suspect Takeoka made similar demands of other women. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 15 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Takeoka, 27, a former host known as "Eren" (エレン) at the club "AXEL by ACQUA", was arrested on suspicion of violating the Fuei Law by demanding that a female customer work in a sex-industry shop to pay club bills. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 14 ]
- Fukushige, 35, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act for introducing the woman to a shop in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 14 , 15 ]
- The woman met Takeoka through a matching app, and he later led her to his club. [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 15 ]
- She paid about 3.8 million yen to the club, with Mainichi giving 3,834,000 yen over eight visits. [ 2 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
- Takeoka is exercising his right to remain silent. [ 7 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
- Fukushige is described as a member of a sex-industry scout group, and police are investigating whether Takeoka introduced other customers to him. [ 5 , 15 ]
- The revised Fuei Law took effect in June 2025 and bans demanding that customers work in sex-industry shops. [ 1 , 5 , 8 , 14 , 15 ]
Still unclear
- When Takeoka was arrested. Yomiuri says both men were arrested on 14 October, and Mainichi says Fukushige was arrested on the 14th. Mainichi also says police announced Takeoka's arrest on 16 October, and Asahi and Tokyo Shimbun say it was known by the 15th and 16th.
- How many other women were affected. Yomiuri says police believe Takeoka brought dozens of women to the club through the app and asked some of them to work in sex-industry shops. Other outlets say only that police suspect similar demands of other women or are investigating other introductions.
- The woman's age and the exact amount she paid. Asahi and Mainichi give her age as 25 at the time, Yomiuri, Tokyo Shimbun and Nikkei say 26, and Sankei says in her 20s. Amounts are given as about 3.8 million yen and 3,834,000 yen, and Asahi mentions about 2 million yen borrowed from consumer lenders.
- A second woman's account. TBS NEWS DIG says another woman who claims similar harm told JNN she was told to "work every day". Its headline also mentions a woman who paid close to 10 million yen, and the available text does not say whether she is the same woman.
- What exactly Takeoka said. Outlets quote him as offering a chance to quit hosting early and travel together or live together, while NHK says he asked her to help him become number one. Police have not been quoted resolving these accounts.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asahi, Yomiuri and TBS NEWS DIG publish reports of the arrests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports the arrests of Takeoka and Fukushige. [ 5 ]
- Nippon TV and Sankei report that Takeoka is staying silent under questioning. [ 7 , 8 ]
- NHK reports the arrest of the former host. [ 11 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that another woman told JNN she was told to work every day. [ 13 ]
- Mainichi reports that the Metropolitan Police Department announced Takeoka's arrest on 16 October. [ 14 ]
- Nikkei reports that Fukushige admitted the allegation and Takeoka stayed silent. [ 15 ]