South Korean National, 70, Arrested for Providing Tokyo Tower Apartment for Illegal Poker Gambling, Reportedly Paid 1 Million Yen a Month
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Organized Crime Control Bureau announced on July 31, 2026 that it had arrested a 70-year-old South Korean national on suspicion of operating a gambling establishment for profit. According to reports by the Asahi Shimbun and other outlets, he is accused of providing a room in a tower apartment in Shinjuku's Kabukicho area as a gambling venue between April and June of that year. He is believed to have served as the nominal leaseholder, subleasing the room to the operators, and received roughly 1 million yen a month in compensation.
The poker operation is said to have generated approximately 46 million yen in sales over about three months, and seven people on the operating side and seven customers have already been arrested. Under questioning, the man has denied the allegations, reportedly saying, "I was asked to lend my name, but I didn't open a gambling establishment."
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution and the full scope of the operating group's activities remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.