On the evening of Apr. 1 the Hakata Police Department inspected Nakasu’s free information kiosks to ensure compliance with a new prefectural ordinance requiring their registration. According to the police, 31 of the prefecture’s 44 kiosks, which display information from adult entertainment shops, are located in Nakasu.
The kiosks are a suspected source of income for organized crime groups, and the new ordinance was enacted to improve monitoring of the kiosks. In addition to mandating pre-registration with the Prefectural Public Safety Commission, the ordinance requires kiosks to post “no minors allowed” signs. Operators of kiosks located near schools or in other prohibited areas can be imprisoned for up to six months or fined up to ¥500,000. It is the eighth such piece of local legislation in Japan and the first in Kyushu. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 2
