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Tokyo Police Raid Popular Roppongi Nightclubs (Gaspanic Bar & Club 99)

Police have raided Club 99 and Gaspanic Bar, two popular and infamous establishments in the Roppongi area of Tokyo:

It seems that the owners were operating their nightclubs without a license to stay open late a night.

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29 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - November 28, 2011 at 3:43 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags:

Ap

Hah, I’ve been to that GASPanic club.
It’s kinda crappy though, so no loss there.

http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com Mr.S.

It’s beyond me why anyone goes out there. In Tokyo you can’t find somewhere less sleazy, with less chance of getting rolled, with drinks less watered-down, less-rohhypnol-ed, less over-priced, with fewer of the sadder Gaijin and their hunters?

http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com Mr.S.

Yes, but it’s a bad idea to swim in such a public pool: latex swimsuit, or not.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Or, more likely, late on the paperwork and fee to renew a license.

http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com Mr.S.

Oh… play along. Urban myths are much more fun.

JACK

They have been open late forever, they must of stopped paying off the local cops.. figures “Japan”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Arlotti/679491533 Brett Arlotti

Ahh, Gaspanic. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.

Joe blow

Just as long as the GASPanic scum don’t start hanging out at the clubs I like to go to.
RMilner

Well, Gas Panic was kind of cool back in the mid-90s. I’m surprised it has lasted this long.

A full-on police raid seems a bit excessive for non-payment of a late licence.

Presumably the owner will pay up and be back in business in a few days.

Tony D

“A full-on police raid seems a bit excessive for non-payment of a late licence.”

Token gesture to try and remind people that there is a police force I imagine. Like how when they “raid” yakuza headquarters (but politely call ahead to let them know they’re coming)….

http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com Mr.S.

“Cool back in the mid-90s”? No, unless disgusting-drunk anorexic self-described ‘models’, and the kind who want to take advantage of them in that state was your thing. I’ll assume it wasn’t.

Shogun

Roppongi……….nothing but disgusting gutter trash there. The roads and buildings are filled with litter too.

http://www.billowykimono.com Senor Science

Amen to that.
http://www.facebook.com/rallegretti Rob Allegretti

I knew there was a reason I liked it

Jemma

Thank God the cops are finally taking late night dancing seriously! I’m am sure you will all agree, this terrible crime has been (for far too long) over-shadowed by the spate of people riding bicycles that they are not the owner of!
@nanyanen

This all part of a recent nationwide crackdown on nightclubs. Japan Times ran an interesting story about what is happening. (add the www)
japantimes.co.jp/text/fm20111124im.html#.Ts2K5CWEZEo.twitter

With all the illegal activity they could be stopping and shady establishments they could be raiding in Roppongi, it seem not only counter-intuitive but also quite fishy to crackdown on popular nightclubs. My guess is that these clubs are all being targeted for their underworld connections as part of the NPA’s initiatives against the yakuza this year. While I think getting rid of the yakuza and their influence may be a good thing, interrupting the flow of business at popular establishments (especially during hours of operation) is misguided for many reasons. Nevertheless, expect more incidents of this nature.
http://www.facebook.com/rallegretti Rob Allegretti

Nice to see that the bureaucracy and licensing red tape affects clubs in non-US countries as well.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Den-Ger/100002927149861 Den Ger

this is happening to clubs all over the country at the moment. they’re hitting up big, busy clubs. happened to pure, sam and dave in osaka and keith flack in fukuoka in the last few weeks

bernician

Good. Those places need shutting.
Then again…wouldn’t that make their clientele go elsewhere….
hmm…
Bruce Smith

Ummm so the most suspicious activity that the police could find in Roppongi was dancing ?
Andrew

This may surprise some, but no clubs in Japan have a license to operate until the early hours. Clubs are not allowed to apply for such licenses – only bars.

Usually, clubs pay the Yakuza who then in turn offer protection from the police. Looks like someone didn’t want to pay up in this case. Same thing happened with Yellow some time ago.

Police corruption is rife out here – ever wonder why the Iranian mafia are allowed to openly deal on the streets of Shibuya and have their meetings in SegaFredo without ever being bothered?
http://twitter.com/IsolaValentine Natalie ‘DSQ’ B.

These comments are gold xD
Jaredstar1

okay for those of use who don’t frequent the Japanese Night Life what is the problem with GASPanic
Anonymous

Gaspanic was closed down when I was in Japan in 2010-04 lol.