What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabukicho, an area of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that is either a tourist trap or sleazy red-light district depending on who you ask. This week, join us to hear stories from one of Japan's most infamous neighborhoods.   

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode: 

Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | Instagram

Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X 

Moeka Iida: X 

Yukana Inoue: Articles 

Read more: 

Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times)

The controversial cult of the host club in Japan (Moeka Iida, The Economist)

Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times)

Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!  

Photo: One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES

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