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Japan Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Will the new law force 'street scouts' for sex businesses off the sidewalks for good?
For the past several decades, it was common to see "scouts" -- nattily dressed and well groomed young hunks -- accosting young women on sidewalks near major rail stations in Tokyo. Their standard pickup line was typically something like, "Hi! Say, would you be interested in making lots of money?" If the young woman showed interest, she might be introduced to a cabaret club, erotic bathhouse or some other type of "pink" business. The remuneration for this work could be quite lucrative: scouts earned a finder's fee plus a fixed percentage (known in the trade as "scout back"), said to range from 10% to 15%, but in special cases as high as 20% of the woman's earnings for as long as she remained on the job. Viewed as a public nuisance, the authorities eventually began cracking down. In January 2024, a scout group that went by the name "Access," was charged with violation of the Employment Security Law. The group, which oversaw the activities of some 1,500 scouts, was said to have raked in some 7 billion yen in revenues over the previous five years. Another outfit named "Natural," believed to be the nation's largest group, allegedly achieved annual sales of 5 billion yen. Its employees were also arrested in a police dragnet. According to the "special report" in Spa (June 17), street scouts were earning 500,000 yen per month on average, with the "aces" at the top of their profession taking home anywhere between 1 to 2 million yen per month. The bosses who oversaw the scouts' operations also raked in generous rewards. On May 20 of this year, however, revisions to the Act Regulating Adult Entertainment Business came into effect that effectively banned the "scout back" system. Those found in violation were subject to fines of up to 1 million yen and/or imprisonment of up to six months. At the same time, the fines for operating unlicensed sex shops were also substantially increased, up to a maximum of 10 million yen for individuals and 100 million yen for corporations. "This came as a huge blow," the pseudonymous "Mr A," a self-described freelance scout, told the magazine. "About half of the soaplands and delivery health operators I've been scouting for have dropped me. Needless to say, my income has also fallen by around half, and I've had to be extra cautious or risk running afoul of the new law. "About half the scouts I know have given up their jobs," he added. Fearing they would also be targeted, many of the soaplands in Tokyo's Yoshiwara red-light district dismissed female workers having ties to the scouts, and as a result the bathhouses are presently confronting a worker shortage that's hurting their bottom lines. "Last March, the job recruiting web site called 'Girls' Heaven' halted its recruitment for soaplands and also ceased postings on another site, called 'Vanilla,'" said Mr "B," who works as manager in a scout office in Shinjuku's Kabukicho. "Most of the scouts who left the business were facing a severe earnings shortfall, leaving them with only 200,000 yen per month," B continues. "That left them with little choice but to quit and look for other work. The remainder are still working as scouts; after all, there's no chance of sex businesses disappearing. So with fewer competitors out on the streets, I think their work will pick up again." One scout, infuriated at being dropped by a sex shop, was said to have sought revenge by purposely introducing a woman known to be carrying a sexually transmitted disease to a shop. B also mentioned two examples of high-profit, low-risk businesses that might circumvent the new law because they've been disregarded by the authorities up to now: so-called men's aesthetic salons and kon-kafe ("concept cafes," such as maid cafés, butler cafes, and prince cafes, designed around a specific theme or worldview). "No matter how strictly the laws are enforced, there are always loopholes," the aforementioned "A" tells the magazine. "That is to say, it makes sense for the sex shop to appear to have severed ties with scouts. Or, girls might change from a massage parlor to a cabaret club, but continue to be working for the same scout. "Actually there's a certain soapland in Yoshiwara that hired a former scout to drive the shuttle bus that takes the girls to and from their work. Instead of "scout back" payments, he receives remuneration in the form of a regular salary," A added. "Before the new revisions to the law went into effect, scouts had been cited by invoking other laws, such as causing damages according to the Employment Security Law," attorney Mikako Watanabe explains. "However these all had to be processed on a case-by-case basis. "Will the new law actually make enforcement any easier?" Watanabe asks rhetorically. "Unfortunately, all laws seem to have limitations on what they can accomplish." © Japan Today
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
No arrests at G7 summit protests, says security group
Article content 'Thankfully we were able to have that pilot safely exit the controlled airspace, land and then an investigation started into exactly what happened there,' he said. Article content 'Some of our partner agencies are looking at applicable regulatory offences, but at this time, it's not my understanding that any charges have been laid.' Article content Airspace restrictions in effect during the summit were lifted at noon Wednesday, while the Controlled Access Zone established around key summit venues is also no longer in effect. Article content Motorized vehicles are again able to access Highway 40 from the intersection on Highway 1 to the closure gate at the junction of the Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Article content The tunnel on Airport Trail N.E. in Calgary was expected to reopen Wednesday afternoon and the designated demonstration zones in Calgary and Banff are no longer in effect. Article content Article content However, the Highwood Pass/Highway 40 will not reopen to all vehicular traffic until this Saturday, according to ISSG. Article content Article content 'As foreign dignitaries continue to depart Alberta, residents in these communities may see some continued security presence for the coming days as the ISSG clears equipment, and police vehicles, and assists with clean-up duties at designated sites,' the security group said in a news release. Article content 'It's important to remember we're not finished,' Hall said. 'We have a lot of work to do to demobilize our security posture and all of our respective organizations need to wind down their operations. At some point, we'll tally all those costs and those will be made publicly available.' Article content In 2002, when the then-G8 summit was last held in Kananaskis Country, the City of Calgary's security-related costs totaled $34 million, according to Calgary Herald archives. That was the first summit held after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, which led to a more robust approach to security and policing in general, and the first held after a protester was shot dead by police in Genoa, Italy during the 2001 summit. Article content Article content This year's G7 gathering saw several security protocols in effect, including checkpoints blocking traffic, the closure of nearby hiking trails and common areas, motorcade training drills, temporary road closures in Calgary, airspace restrictions, the establishment of four designated protest zones in Calgary and Banff, and even wildlife monitoring. Article content At the summit itself, snipers were positioned on rooftops, adjacent businesses were sequestered and soldiers or police officers were stationed at trailhead parking lots in the G7 exclusion zone. Article content Costs for hosting the summit will be provided by Public Safety Canada, and operational costs incurred by the event will be covered federally through the Major International Event Security Cost Framework, according to a statement from the City of Calgary.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Winncom Technologies Launches BEAD Grant Writing Reimbursement Program to Help Navigate Major Federal Policy Shift
SOLON, Ohio, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced sweeping revisions to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The changes—outlined in a new Policy Notice—eliminate the previous fiber-only preference in favor of a technology-neutral framework. For the first time, providers using Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), satellite, and hybrid models will be evaluated on equal footing with fiber networks. While these changes reduce regulatory burdens and open the door to innovation, they also require that all previously submitted BEAD proposals be revised and resubmitted—within just 90 days. For many providers, that is a logistical and financial challenge. To meet this moment, Winncom Technologies is expanding its BEAD Grant Writing Assistance Program with a new reimbursement model. Customers who leverage Winncom's in-house team for grant writing support will now receive a 75% credit toward product purchases across its entire vendor portfolio, effectively reducing the upfront risk of applying. "BEAD applicants are under pressure to rework plans quickly—and in many cases, completely rethink their deployment strategy," said VP of Sales & Business Development at Winncom Technologies. "We built our reimbursement model so that service providers can pivot confidently, without the high financial burden that usually comes with hiring a grant writer." Winncom's program, originally launched in early 2024, has already guided dozens of ISPs, rural cooperatives, and municipal utilities through the application process. With the new NTIA rules prioritizing performance and cost-efficiency over fiber exclusivity, Winncom's multi-technology expertise—spanning FWA, and fiber—positions it as a strategic partner in this next phase of BEAD funding. "This isn't just about writing a grant—it's about helping our customers win," adds Aaron Savy. "Whether you're re-submitting a fiber build or now considering Fixed Wireless Access (3.5GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, 60GHz) for the first time, our team is here to help you put together a competitive, compliant application before the clock runs out." For more information on Winncom's BEAD Grant Writing Assistance Program, including reimbursement eligibility and service scope, visit or contact bead@ About Winncom Technologies: Winncom Technologies, a global value-added distributor of wireless and wired broadband equipment offers the most advanced forms of communication by providing customers with cutting-edge, industry-leading products and solutions. With a far-reaching international scope, Winncom remains at the forefront of the global technology marketplace, demonstrating a reputation for quality products, a full range of network infrastructure and access products, and a customer-centric business model. We offer one of the industry's most notable product portfolios along with scalable solutions, world-class customer service, engineering services, network design, and outstanding more information, visit: Valuable Winncom Technologies Resources: Winncom Technologies' Grant Writing Services Brochure Grant Writing Assistance Program Winncom Technologies' BEAD Program Dept of Commerce BEAD Restructuring Policy Official Notice Schedule an Application Review Meeting View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Winncom Technologies, Corp Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
I-MAK Report Reveals How Extending Patent Terms Inflates Prices of Medicare's Top Negotiated Drugs
Data brief analyzes patenting and pricing practices for blockbuster drugs Eliquis and semaglutide medications (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy), continuing the acclaimed Overpatented, Overpriced series that exposes flaws in the U.S. patent system NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 16, 2025 / The Initiative for Medicines, Access, and Knowledge (I-MAK) published the latest data brief in its landmark Overpatented, Overpriced series, revealing the multiple ways pharmaceutical companies are able to extend their patent protection and keep drug prices high. The new data brief exposes how these systemic flaws impact Eliquis, a top-selling blood thinner, and the semaglutide family of diabetes and weight-loss drugs including Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Overpriced 2025 A Data Brief on Medicare-Negotiated Drugs: Eliquis, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy The data brief accompanies updates to I-MAK's Drug Patent Book, a comprehensive and publicly accessible database that reveals detailed patent information on a number of bestselling pharmaceutical drugs, and builds on I-MAK's acclaimed Overpatented, Overpriced investigation series, which has become a cornerstone resource for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working to address America's prescription drug pricing crisis. Key findings include: 'What we're seeing is a patent system that is designed to help drugmakers extend their patent monopolies so they can maximize profits at the expense of affordable medicines patients can access,' said Tahir Amin, CEO and co-founder of I-MAK. 'We need to change these different incentives in the patent system as they are being exploited to the detriment of the public.' The findings underscore the urgent need for patent system reform and stronger Congressional and regulatory oversight. I-MAK's research and evidence has informed legislative efforts to address prescription drug pricing and has been cited by policymakers across the political spectrum. 'This research provides policymakers with the hard data they need to understand how patent abuse is the root cause of high drug prices in the United States,' states Amin. 'We can't fix what we can't see, and I-MAK's work is essential for bringing transparency and accountability to a system that has operated in the shadows for far too long.' Contact Information Simon Tam Director of Communications [email protected] (443) 267-4666 SOURCE: Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge press release
Tokyo Reported
7 days ago
- Business
- Tokyo Reported
Ishikawa prosecutors seek prison term for pair over operation of soapland
ISHIKAWA (TR) – Prosecutors here are seeking prison terms for the operators of a soapland bathhouse in Katayamazu Onsen on the grounds that they were providing a place for prostitution, reports Ishikawa TV (June 6). The former administrator and shop manager of soapland Cutie Doll former manager and the company in Yokokama City, Kanagawa Prefecture that runs the business stand accused of violating the Anti-Prostitution Act. They are alleged to have provided six women with a place to carry out prostitution after receiving introductions by the large-scale scouting group Access. At the trial held at the Kanazawa District Court on June 6, the prosecution pointed out that the former administer worked for over 10 years at the business, earning more than 500,000 yen a month. Meanwhile, the shop manager worked there for over three years, earning a monthly salary of 300,000 yen. Cutie Doll is located in Katayamazu Onsen 1 million yen a day The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of 1 year and 10 months and a fine of 200,000 yen for the former administrator. Meanwhile, they are seeking an 18-month term and a fine of 150,000 yen for the former shop manager. In addition, they are requesting a fine of 300,000 yen be levied against the Yokohama company that runs the soapland. Meanwhile, the defense argued that that sales at the soapland amounted to around 1 million yen a day, which made the salaries of the former administrator and shop manager very small by comparison. The defense also pointed out that the two did not directly profit from prostitution. It is seeking a suspended sentence. The lawyer for the soapland company also sought a lenient sentence, stating that the company is currently in the process of closing down. The verdict will be handed down on June 25.
