I haven't seen them that much either in the 10 years that I've been in Japan and it has been a long time since I've seen them. I know they are still around but nothing to worry about, I think.
I probably saw them 7 or 8 times in the space of 2 1/2 months when I was there a couple years ago....mostly around Shinjuku, but it sounds like things have quieted down a bit since then.