Massive-busted actresses’ films presumably part of massive bust in Shinjuku.

Tokyo’s Kabukicho neighborhood, part of the capital’s Shinjuku Ward, actually has a pretty classy name. Kabuki, of course, is Japan’s proudest and most internationally recognized acting discipline, and the “cho” part just means “town,” referring to a proposal to build a kabuki theater in the district.

However, that proposal was originally made in the late 1940s, and plans to build the theater have long since been abandoned. Instead, Kabukicho has developed into Tokyo’s most unabashed collection of dive bars, hostess clubs, and strip joints. But while Japanese society usually takes a pragmatic view of carnal desire, some things are still considered over the line in the eyes of the law, and a recent investigation turned up the largest collection of illegal adult videos ever confiscated by the Tokyo police in a single operation, as 579,000 porno DVDs were seized.

▼ A very small portion of the seized DVDs

Despite producing a steady stream of media designed to titillate, Japanese law requires certain censorships, such as mosaics being placed over performers’ genitals. A black market tries to get around these regulations by producing and selling uncensored porn, and on November 11 the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested 47-year-old Kabukicho resident Ariake Morita at a DVD shop in the neighborhood, on suspicion of selling 38 prohibited DVDs to customers for a total price of around 15,000 yen (US$135). The subsequent investigation spread to raids on four other porn shops with the same ownership, as well as facilities in which uncensored videos had been produced and stored.

When the dust settled, the police had arrested 17 men, ranging in age from 22 to 79. They also had a massive collection of contraband seized from the stores, which investigators claim were each earning roughly 12 million yen per month (though how much of that came from sales of illegal pornography has not been specified). The police speculate that the proceeds may have been funneled to yakuza criminal organizations, which would add additional charges to those the accused already face.

All 17 suspects have admitted to being complicit in the illegal activities, saying they did so “to earn money for living expenses,” and await trial. In the meantime, no official statement has been given as to how the authorities plan to confirm that all 579,000 DVDs contain illegal, uncensored material, leaving open the possibility of public prosecutors sitting through a lengthy porn marathon as part of their civic duty.

Source: Nikkan Sports, Kyodo Tsushin 47 News via Otakomu
Top image: Pakutaso