Murder investigation launched in death of host in Kabukicho

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police revealed on Tuesday that a murder investigation has been launched in the death of a 25-year-old male nightclub entertainer in Shinjuku Ward, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 6).

At around 1 a.m. on June 24, emergency services received a call about a man found collapsed and bleeding from his head on the third floor of a building in the Kabukicho red-light district. Upon arrival, medical personnel determined the victim, an employee at a host club, was in cardiopulmonary arrest. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

A legally-ordered autopsy revealed the cause of death to be traumatic shock from intracranial injuries.

On June 23, the victim was seen drinking and serving customers inside the club on the second floor of the same building. At around midnight, he was observed by building personnel to be lying down in the corridor of the third floor.

One hour later, the same personnel told detectives that he was seen again in the same position but with a pool of blood around his head.

Detectives believe he was the victim of an assault, and are searching for his attacker.