TOKYO - A hairdresser operating a salon in Tokyo’s Omotesando district has been arrested on suspicion of luring a female client into the restroom and committing indecent acts, raising questions about how a well-known stylist with a large clientele carried out such conduct.
The suspect is Shogo Fujii, a 33-year-old owner of the salon “ELTE,” who was known for energetically discussing his passion for hairstyling while working and claimed on social media to serve more than 200 clients each month. Fujii’s salon was located in the highly competitive Omotesando area, where he presented himself as the representative director and CEO of his business.
On September 29th, investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department searched his salon, with Fujii telling reporters that there had been “some problem with the building” and that his shop was cooperating. Roughly three hours later, however, he was arrested on suspicion of committing indecent acts without consent.
Police say the incident occurred in April, when Fujii allegedly asked a woman in her twenties, after finishing her hair treatment, to follow him to the restroom. Once inside, he locked the door and told her, “I’ll give you a good shampoo and you won’t have to pay today. You’re the only one I can ask.” He then allegedly grabbed her wrist and forced her to touch him.
A regular customer in her twenties described the salon as a quiet place, often without assistants, where treatments were largely one-on-one, sometimes leaving the client alone with Fujii. Police are investigating whether he deliberately used such opportunities to target women.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Fujii has admitted to the allegations, but multiple reports of similar incidents have been received, and investigators are looking into possible additional cases.
Source: TBS
