Kabukicho is said to be the "number one entertainment district in the Orient." The Shinjuku Police Station and Kabukicho Police Box are responsible for the safety of this city that never sleeps 24 hours a day. We followed the police officers at the Shinjuku Kabukicho Police Box, which is said to be the "busiest in Japan." ■ Guarding the safety of the city that never sleeps... Shinjuku Police Station and Kabukicho Police Box A police officer on patrol receives a report that a foreigner is acting violently. Police officer: "I think two police officers are also there." The scene is Seibu Shinjuku Station in Kabukicho. When the police officers rushed to the scene, they found a foreigner screaming and acting violently near the ticket gate. Foreigner: "Wait." Police officer: "Calm down, I'll touch your back pocket." Foreigner: "I'm sorry, but why?" Police officer: "Stop, OK?" "Don't bite me." "Don't act violently." The police officer violently resisted the police officers who were trying to subdue him, so they were forced to wrap his arms and legs in a sheet and carry him with the help of seven officers. Since he was quite drunk and there was a risk of harming ordinary people, they decided to take him into the care of Shinjuku Police Station. Foreigner: "Oh no!" Kabukicho is known as the "number one entertainment district in the Orient." The Shinjuku Police Station and Kabukicho Police Box are responsible for the safety of this city that never sleeps 24 hours a day. Man: "Don't touch me, you brat. I'll gouge your eyes out." "If you don't know, don't tell me!" Police officer: "It's dangerous, it's dangerous." An emergency call was made about a runaway girl in the Tower Yoko Plaza. Police officer: "Is it over there?" "Is that it?" We followed the police officers at the Shinjuku Kabukicho Police Box, which is said to be the busiest in Japan. ■At the police box... an elderly man with three young people... Kabukicho is now full of foreign tourists. In front of the new symbol, Kabukicho Tower, there is a square where young people called "Toto Yoko Kids" gather. 42 people were taken into custody in a mass custody call at the end of last month. The number of custody cases in the area has increased sevenfold in five years. Kabukicho Police Box is located close by. More than 10 police officers are on duty even at midnight. We deal with various incidents and troubles 24 hours a day. At 10:30 pm, an elderly man came to the police station with three young people. Man: "Do you need a police inspector? Because you look like you're underage." Young people: "I'm not underage." The man spoke as if he was visiting a police officer he knew. In fact, this man was the cause of the trouble. To begin with, we decided to interview him outside the police station. Police officer: "What happened?" Young people: "We were hit by a bicycle." According to the young people, they collided with the man on the bicycle while walking. One of them had a minor injury to the knee. They also said that the man seemed drunk. Police officer: "If you're injured, we'll treat this as a personal injury accident." Man: "On purpose? Are you a hit-and-run driver?" The police officer was shocked by the man's words... Police officer: "You hit someone, and yet you act like that?" He even took out his smartphone and started taking pictures at the police officer. He then pointed it at the young people... Man: "You better be prepared." Police officer: "What's going on?" The injured young man decided to report the incident as a fatal accident. The police will investigate the incident as the older man may have been drinking. According to Shinjuku Police Station, fights and drunkenness are on the rise as more people visit Kabukicho after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. ■200,000 yen from the locker "When I opened it, there was luggage and cash" A report was made after 6 p.m. that a suspicious suitcase and cash were found in a coin locker. Police officer: "The key should have been there... it wasn't there." The report was made by a man who was trying to use the locker. The key was said to be open. Police officer: "I don't think it's right to spread money around here. I'd like you to come to the police station." A suspicious object was found in the coin locker with the lock still open. A black suitcase and, for some reason, cash were still there. The man who reported the incident said the following. Reporter: "When I opened the locker, I could see my luggage and cash. It was a large amount of money, so there was at least 200,000 yen." Mysterious cash and suitcase. The police box decided to keep it for a while. At 9:30pm, a report was received that "someone ran off with their money." Man: "A foreign woman called out to me as I was passing by." Police officer: "It was on this street." Man: "I went into a hotel, but the woman was gone." In fact, in recent years, there has been an increase in prostitution, known as "standing prostitutes," in the area around Okubo Park in Kabukicho. On this day, there were many women waiting for customers. In response to this situation, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested 35 women on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Law in a crackdown last month. Meanwhile, money troubles are also on the rise. A man whose money was run off with a foreign woman. Police officer: "What color clothes was she wearing?" Man: "Oh, she was drunk. A miniskirt..." It seems that such incidents are on the rise. Just after midnight, a woman came in saying, "I'm looking for something I lost." Police officer: "May I have your ID?" Woman: "Yes, I understand." What they were looking for was the black suitcase and cash found in the coin locker six hours earlier. After checking the characteristics and amount of the luggage, they matched, so it was returned to the woman. The woman said she was visiting Tokyo for sightseeing. Woman: "I came to see a friend." Why on earth would she leave the locker unlocked? Woman: "I put my things in, put my money in, locked it, but forgot to take it out. When I went to get it, my things were gone." The woman was at a loss when she saw an empty coin locker. As for why she left her cash in there... Woman: "It was a large amount, so it's not a good idea to carry it around." Please make sure to lock it properly next time. ■After being warned about urinating while standing... "I was beaten by some men" Shinjuku Kabukicho Police Box deals with various crimes and troubles 24 hours a day. Just after 3am, a report was received that "I was beaten by some men." Police officers rushed to the scene. Then... Woman: "They ran away. They ran away." Police officer: "Shall I call an ambulance?" The call was made by a foreign man and woman. There were bloodstains on the man's shirt... What on earth happened? Woman: "He was peeing right in front of me. I told him not to do it in a place like this." Police officer: "Let's go look for him together." When the police officer warned the man who was peeing next to the smoking area, he suddenly started punching her. The man also had injuries on his face and was excited. Man: "He made a move on me. I didn't make a move because I thought there was a woman there. Look at her. He made a move on her." The man was a group of three, and he also assaulted the woman... They may still be nearby. We will search for the group of three. Police officer: "He's not here?" Man: "He's not here." The investigation is currently underway as an assault case. ■17-year-old girl runs away from home...Police officers desperately searching for her Police officer: "Let's start searching." An emergency call was received that a 17-year-old girl who had run away from home the day before was in Kabukicho. Police officer: "Let's go to the square for now." "Let's call out to all the young girls." The place where the girl is thought to be is the square in Kabukicho, where young people known as "Toyoko Kids" hang out. It's also a place where crimes, troubles, and overdoses of drugs have been a problem. The girl had posted a photo of herself in the square on social media. However, all we know at present is her name. They say they don't know her face. But the police officer... Police officer: "We're looking for someone. Can you tell me your name?" "Just your last name will do." Girl: "X." Police officer: "That's not her. Thank you." The police officer desperately searches for the girl, relying on this little bit of information. Police officer: "Can I ask your name?" Girl: "X." Then, new information comes in. Police officer: "She's 155 cm tall and skinny." However, it's Kabukicho on a Friday and lots of people are coming and going. About 30 minutes into the search, it seemed like it would be difficult to find her, when... Police officer: "Is she over there?" "Oh yeah," another police officer contacted them, saying that they had found the girl. Police officer: "Do you have anything that identifies your name? Can you tell me your name?" Girl: "This is XX." Police officer: "Who is this?" Girl: "I don't know." Police officer: "Why don't you know? You're not a friend? Come to the police box for a second." The 17-year-old girl had been wandering around Kabukicho with a friend. After questioning her in detail at the police box, it was discovered that she was the runaway girl they had been looking for. She was transferred to Shinjuku Police Station, and later handed over to her family. The Kabukicho Police Box protects the safety of Kabukicho, the town that never sleeps. The police officers' struggle continues. [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp