Employee Arrested for Letting Underage Girl Enter Black Prince Concept Cafe in Kabukicho is Totally different in Real Life versus SNS
The Black Prince concept cafe in Kabukicho, Tokyo, has come under fire after one of its employees was arrested for allowing a minor to enter the venue. Concept cafes, where staff members dress and act according to specific themes, have become a growing trend in Japan — especially those targeting a female audience with male servers. But with popularity comes controversy.
According to Tokyo Metropolitan Police, 23-year-old Ayumu Maruyama, an employee at Black Prince, is accused of violating Japan’s Entertainment Business Act by letting a 17-year-old high school girl enter the café as a customer, fully aware of her age.
Black Prince Concept Cafe: Staff Used Social Media to Invite Underage Girl
Maruyama reportedly met the girl via social media, where she had expressed interest in visiting men’s concept cafes. When she asked if she could still visit despite being underage, he allegedly replied that she could. He went on to say, “I help out at my family’s farm during the week, so I can only meet on weekends,” and encouraged her to come by.
To avoid suspicion, Maruyama is said to have told the girl, “Don’t mention anything about high school while you’re in the store,” instructing her to pretend to be an adult.
Employee Arrested for Letting Underage Girl Enter Black Prince Concept Cafe in Kabukicho is Totally different in Real Life versus SNS
While the case is already concerning due to the legal breach, what truly caught the attention of Japanese social media was Maruyama’s appearance. When the news broke, many were stunned by the dramatic difference between his heavily filtered, makeup-enhanced online photos and his real-life, unaltered mugshot.
Two images circulated widely: one showing the glamorous, styled version of Maruyama online, and the other showing his plain, real-life appearance. The drastic contrast sparked a wave of reactions, with people joking that he was “completely different online” and calling it a “total transformation.”
Despite the mounting evidence, Maruyama has denied the accusations, stating: “I have no recollection of this.”
This incident has reignited concerns about concept cafes skirting regulations and how staff might misuse their influence, especially over younger fans found via social media.
via TBS
