Osaka police raided a members-only Vietnamese nightclub in Shinsaibashi after a young Vietnamese man died outside the building in May, and more than 30 people have been arrested on suspicion of overstaying or possessing illegal drugs, but the club is still open.
When investigators entered the basement club, more than 150 Vietnamese customers were inside the dimly lit room. They found large quantities of white powder. Some customers were lying on the floor with their eyes rolled back and were taken away by ambulance.
About 10% of the customers were in what was described as an abnormal state, suspected of having used drugs.
The club sits in the Nishishinsaibashi area of Chuo Ward, Osaka, about 400 meters northwest of Ebisubashi bridge in Dotonbori. Brothels and love hotels line the surrounding streets.
A death in May
The case began in May, when a Vietnamese man in his 20s collapsed in front of the building and died. The cause of death was acute cardiac arrest. A judicial autopsy attributed it to the effects of drugs including MDMA, a synthetic narcotic.
Accounts from people involved showed the man had visited the club shortly before he collapsed.
In August, Osaka prefectural police searched the club on suspicion of violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. The raid threw the interior into confusion, and white powder believed to be an illegal drug was seized.
One senior investigator voiced concern about the building's status. "It was a state almost like extraterritoriality," the investigator said. "A Vietnamese district has formed in Minami, and illegal acts are running rampant." Minami is the entertainment district covering central Osaka.
Arrests followed one after another, but the club is still operating.
A second building searched
The club was not the only target. Police also searched a seven-story building nearby known as the 79 Building, and seized drugs from several businesses including a basement nightclub.
The building houses restaurants, a karaoke parlor and bars. Police searched every floor.
Osaka has seen its Vietnamese population grow nearly sevenfold over the past decade. The reporter visited the building in mid-September, when a neon sign shaped like a flamingo and cocktail glasses glowed above the entrance.
When the reporter tried to enter the basement club, a heavily built man blocked the way. "Only Vietnamese can go in," he said in fluent Japanese. He appeared to be a security guard.
Asked why, he said a residence card was required and pointed to other options. "The bars next door are stylish and I recommend them," he said.