Senior police officer got free sex at soapland for eight years
It’s not a shock to anyone that the officers in the vise squad are probably getting a few freebies. But to see it described in plain print and blunt detail still raises eyebrows.
A former senior police officer in Wakayama received free services at an illegal brothel for eight years. As broken in a scoop from Weekly Bunshun, Yasuhiro Horiuchi allegedly used his power over a soapland and exploit it for freebies, according to testimony from a former operator.
“For eight years, I was extorted by a senior Wakayama Prefectural Police officer. He used his police authority to force me to provide him with sexual services from my staff for free.”
Soaplands are types of brothels (fuzoku) where male customers receive intimate bathing services from female staff.
Horiuchi was a high-ranking cop in the prefectural police who had served as station chief and department chief. However, this summer he was reprimanded by the prefectural police chief for “having a private relationship with a regulated business operator.” Officially, he resigned voluntarily, but we presume he was pressured to quit or face more serious consequences.
The question remains over whether his actions constitute a crime and if he might face charges from his erstwhile colleagues.
The soapland is called Emperor and located in Wakayama City. It features an elaborate frieze on the facade depicting what seem to be pink mermaids. The reports describe it as “illegal” but it has been operating for many years, and is a well-known establishment, so the description presumably refers to offering customers off-the-menu options like full service. (Nominally, a soapland is not meant to offer vaginal penetration.)
Bunshun confirmed the operator’s story by checking LINE messages exchanged between the two as well as photos of a smiling Horiuchi on the premises. The operator said that Horiuchi likely made close to 100 visits to Emperor over the years.
