Cabaret worker's union hold first protest
Just translated this story for Japan Today: March 27 – Tokyo’s “Kyabakura Union”–a labor union formed by and for cabaret girls–held their first protest Friday night in Shinjuku’s infamous Kabukicho…
Fuzoku Friday: The Great Happiness Space
Not a new film but a unique one to be sure, The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief is a 2006 documentary by UK director Jake Clennell…
From "Ore Ore" to "Ore wa Yakuza da"–bank scammers adapting to the times
Scammers are adopting new techniques to swindle unsuspecting victims in bank transaction fraud in Osaka Prefecture, according to this article in Sankei News, claiming to be yakuza in order to…
The darkest month of the year
Weekly magazine Shukan Post’s most recent issue contains an interesting article about a topic that likely falls close to home for many dwellers of the Japanese concrete jungle. Train jumpers,…
Now for something completely different: Visual Kei
A link via Mutantfrog Travelogue: And we thought Johnny’s Jimusho was dodgy; Tokyo Damage Report gives the lowdown on the grime in the Visual Kei industry, from lack of contracts…
Upcoming event: Tokyo Vice book talk at Temple University
Just a heads up for those in the Tokyo area: Jake Adelstein will be giving a book talk for Tokyo Vice, possibly including the reading of an unpublished chapter, at…
Jello shots hit Japan–finally!
Almost any American who went to a few parties during their university days will be slightly familiar with the ubiquitous Jello shot, and Wikipedia tells me they exist in a…
Yamaguchi-gumi using pre-paid internet to sell child pornography?
According to an organized crime watchdog, police in Wakayama Prefecture have uncovered a child pornography ring that was able to set up a website selling DVDs by abusing the anonymity…
Yakuza cause stir at sumo match
The Mainichi reported on Jan. 26 about an uproar (if it can be called that) in the sumo world after Sumiyoshi-kai members were spotted occupying ringside tomari-seki seats at the…
Politicians and yakuza, not so different
News of Ichiro Ozawa’s questioning by prosecutors in relation to the Rikuzan-kai campaign fund scandal has flooded the dailies and the news for much of the past few days as…