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Japan Passes Entertainment Law; Arrests Drop, Clubs Still Evade

7/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, passed an Entertainment Law banning romance services, kickbacks and billboard ads.
The bill cleared both Diet chambers unanimously.
Police have recorded one arrest under the law, with arrests falling from 13 in 2024 to five.
A Mainichi Shimbun analysis said the revision “hasn’t moved the needle one iota,” noting clubs evade the law with tabs, shady loans and coded phrases like ?? and ????.

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Story summary

Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, passed an Entertainment Law banning romance services, kickbacks and billboard ads.
The bill cleared both Diet chambers unanimously.
Police have recorded one arrest under the law, with arrests falling from 13 in 2024 to five.
A Mainichi Shimbun analysis said the revision “hasn’t moved the needle one iota,” noting clubs evade the law with tabs, shady loans and coded phrases like ?? and ????.