Nigerian Man Arrested, Then Released, Over Alleged Touting Targeting Tourists in Kabukicho
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The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a 53-year-old Nigerian national on July 9, 2026, on suspicion of illegal touting on a street in Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, allegedly calling out to passersby with phrases such as "Don't worry, 5,000 yen for 90 minutes," and forcibly grabbing their arms. He is believed to have been targeting foreign tourists.
The Metropolitan Police Department has received more than 90 complaints this year about touting believed to have been conducted by African nationals, and had reportedly been stepping up crackdowns in response.
Current status: The man was released on July 11, 2026. No decision on indictment has yet been made, and the investigation will proceed without detention going forward. This article will be updated as further details become available.
Touting is prohibited in Tokyo under the Tokyo Metropolitan Nuisance Prevention Ordinance, and violations can result in detention or a fine. In the area around Kabukicho, sightings of touting believed to be conducted by foreign nationals have increased in recent years alongside the rise in inbound tourism, and the Shinjuku Police Station has reportedly been conducting intensive patrols.
In this case, the man was released two days after his arrest and the investigation switched to a non-custodial format, making it a case worth watching as an example of prosecution proceeding without detention. Similar entertainment-district troubles involving foreign nationals have also been reported, including a robbery causing injury case in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture (related coverage).