TOKYO - Shinjuku’s Kabukicho -- Tokyo’s busiest nightlife district -- saw a steady stream of disturbances through the night, from fistfights and fare disputes to intoxicated individuals collapsing on the street, as officers at the Shinjuku Police Box maintained round-the-clock patrols to keep order.
Around 2 a.m., police responded to a call about a taxi dispute. According to the driver, the passenger canceled after the car had already begun moving and the meter had advanced about 500 yen. The passenger argued he should not be charged, but after about 20 minutes of persuasion at the scene he reluctantly paid the 500 yen and left.
Earlier in the evening, officers handled another complaint tied to aggressive touting. A university student who had followed a promoter partway to a venue said he was suddenly asked to pay a 20,000-yen “cancellation fee” despite never entering the establishment. The promoters dispersed when police arrived, and an officer escorted the student toward Shinjuku Station for safety.
Property damage also sparked confrontation. A shop employee claimed a passerby bumped into him, causing his phone to fall and crack. Security footage from the store showed the two making contact. The passerby insisted he “felt no impact,” refused to apologize, and pounded the counter in frustration. After about 50 minutes of back-and-forth, he agreed to pay roughly 10,000 yen for repairs but still offered no apology.
Alcohol-related incidents dominated the calls. In one case, a woman in her 20s was found unresponsive near a building entrance. Officers requested an ambulance, and the woman—later met by her mother—was taken to hospital on a stretcher. In another, a shirtless man, heavily intoxicated, failed to stand without stumbling and tried to remove his trousers while arguing with bystanders who said he had kicked a passerby. With no injury report filed, police placed the man under protective custody to prevent further disturbance.
Trouble clustered around Tōyoko Hiroba, the plaza near the police box that serves as a gathering spot for youths. Officers received a report that several young women had engaged in self-harm; a box cutter was recovered and those involved were taken for treatment and protective custody. Later, a crowd formed when a man who had initiated a false “life consultation” was confronted by a group who accused him of mocking their concerns. Police separated the parties and escorted the instigator away from the plaza after warning him to leave the area.
The succession of incidents underscores how Kabukicho’s dense nightlife continues to generate conflicts—some petty, others dangerous—requiring constant intervention. Through the evening and into the early hours, officers worked case by case to defuse arguments, shield intoxicated people from harm, and keep foot traffic moving in streets that seldom sleep.
Source: FNN
