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Centrist Reform Alliance Banner

[Insider] How the CDP/KĹŤmeitĹŤ Alliance Could Succeed – Or Blow Up

The success or failure of the Alliance could set the tone for Japanese politics for the next decade (or longer).
Woman holding up a red book with 推 (the kanij for oshi) in front of her face

Japanese Lawmaker Says Anti-Spy Law Could End Oshikatsu Culture

One lawmaker warns that proposed spy legislation could tread on a booming business in Japan: support for one's favorite idol or star.
The arch leading to Kabukicho in Shinjuku is highlighted in red, while the busy nighttime street behind it is in black and white. Text beneath arch reads: "Shinjuku: Origins of the World's Biggest Nightlife District."

Shinjuku: The Birth of Kabukicho

How Kabukicho, Japan's biggest red light district, arose from the ashes of post-war Japan.
Shirakawago - snow-covered houses in winter

Shirakawago, a World Heritage Site, Strains Under Record Tourism Numbers

The village, which sees a swell of tourists in the winter, wants to remind people it's a living community, not an open-air museum.
The Kabukicho Ichibangai Arch in Shinjuku superimposed over the old Yotsuya Okido gate from the samurai era.

Shinjuku: The History and Origins of the World’s Biggest Nightlife District

The world's largest nightlife district, Shinjuku is nearly synonymous with Tokyo itself - yet wasn't even part of old Tokyo. Where do Shinjuku's origins lay?
Two white-silhouette figures fighting in front of the Kabukicho Ichibangai arch

[Insider] In Japan, When Does a Fight Become a Duel?

A Tokyo man is facing an additional five years in jail after prosecutors charged him under a 136-year-old law.

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