Tokyo Police Cracking Down On Bar and Adult Establishment Touts

Above, the Roppongi area of Tokyo where the touts come out at night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rocket News 24 has posted an article that the Tokyo police are cracking down on touts in entertainment districts during December and early January.

What's a tout, you might ask?

According to Google:

tout1 

tout/ 

verb 

1. attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner. 

"Jim was touting his wares"

I first saw touts in 2004 in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo. They stood on the sidewalks near bars and adult entertainment businesses trying to entice pedestrians to these places. They were pretty aggressive.

It appears that there has been enough complaints about touts for the Tokyo police to take action.

As Rocket News 24 reported:

Police in Tokyo have stepped up patrols in popular nightlife areas such as Shibuya, Shinjuku and Roppongi in an effort to reduce the presence of touts who stand outside shops or on corners and attempt to lure customers to their establishments with promises of cute waitresses, cheap drinks and other attractions.

The businesses who use touts will be prohibited from doing so during December and early January.

To read more, go here.