Police in western Japan have recently intensified crackdown on illegally-run female-staffed bars, planning to further practice area-wide factual investigation into their staff management as well as possible violation of laws.

The Osaka prefectural police conducted major raids over the past one month on the late-night drinking spot called "girl's bars " in "Minami" entertain district, one of the major nightlife spots in Japan, located in Chuo (central) Ward of Osaka City.

In a month till the middle of March, the police searched a total of 5 establishments and arrested seven managers or staff members for violating related laws such as the Entertainment Business Control Law or the Labor Standards Law.

Also in its neighboring city of Kobe, local police searched last month a bar and arrested a 19 year-old manager and a 27-old owner who employed girls of ages 16-17 and forced them to serve drinks for adults without permission.

The raids followed last month's death of an 18-year-old high school girl employed at "Sora", one of the typical "girl's bars". The girl died likely due to alcohol poisoning.

According to local press reports, the girl was found dead, lying face up on the floor, at around 12:30 p.m. on February 12 after emergency services received a call from the 27-year old owner of the bar located in the Minami district of central Osaka.

Questioned by the local police, the Sora's owner said the girl had gone to sleep in the guest room after finishing the allocated night shift which had started from 11:00 p.m. on the previous day. The owner was later arrested for running the place without proper permission.

The Osaka prefectural police now considers the situation is more serious than ever, planning to conduct the prefecture-wide survey of an estimated several hundred "bars" as soon as possible and start investigation into unlawful management.

Young female bartender bar, or "girl's bars" emerged as nightlife spot in Osaka in around 2005. Since then there has been an increase in the numbers of such drinking places, and more than 300 establishments are currently in business in the Minami district alone.

As the late-night drinking spot gets more popularity over the years, the prefectural police are intensifying searching for " illegal" establishments. They searched last year a total of 44 spots which hired girls under 18 years old against the law, or run without proper permission. The number was almost doubled compared with the previous year.

Why "girl's bars" are so popular in Japan?

The current Japanese law allows women employed in hostess clubs to serve drinks and snacks seating next to a customer while it prohibits its opening after midnight. But "bars", whatever for eating or drinking, can be opened until the following morning.

"Girl's bars'" popularity relies on the commercial model that guests enjoy chatting with young women working as "bartenders" from behind a counter for a certain charge. Guests, often requested to order another glass for an "attractive" bartender, pay 1000 to 3000 yen (about 12 to 36 U.S. dollars) for each drink plus the admission fee between 1000 to 1500 yen (about 12 to 18 dollars).

The system allows each bartender, in return, to get back, as incentive, 10 to 20 percent of the guest's pay for the drink, stirring up competition among the bartenders.

There is also another reason such night spots are gradually dominating the industry. The owners tend to hire girls under 20, rather than women more aged, because they do not have to pay much for their night shift working hours.

As a result of the business style, services of the "girl's bars " in Osaka have become almost similar to those offered by hostess clubs, or even "sexier" to easily catch customers. But such a trend is likely to cause not only alcohol poisoning but to induce illegal activities among the younger employees, such as prostitution or else.

But a manager of a girl's bar in the Minami district reportedly said that as long as bars can be easily closed at any time, the owners can re-open another bar at any time, the effectiveness of the authorities' efforts against such illegal management is expected to be limited.