TOKYO - Police have arrested the president of Kanetanaka, a prestigious kaiseki restaurant regarded as one of Japan’s top three ryotei, on suspicion of possessing stimulants and marijuana.
Shingo Okazoe, 63, is the fourth-generation president of Kanetanaka, a high-end traditional restaurant group founding in the Taisho era known for its historical prestige, including serving numerous prime ministers and business leaders.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Okazoe was found in possession of 0.6 grams of stimulants and approximately 1 gram of dried marijuana inside a parked car in the Shinbashi area on October 1st. Following his arrest, investigators searched his home on October 9th, where they seized additional packets of stimulants and a homemade pipe used for inhalation.
Kanetanaka operates multiple locations, including in Ginza and Kita-Aoyama, and maintains a reputation for serving elite clientele. Okazoe’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the industry, although some who know him were less surprised.
"He lives in a different world, so I guess these things felt closer to him," said one person familiar with the restaurant. Another man, who spoke with Okazoe over the phone three days ago, remarked, "He didn’t seem unusual at all. I’m truly shocked."
Okazoe has admitted to the charges. Police are now investigating how he obtained the illegal substances.
Source: FNN
