While Japanese might call Kabukicho seedy and dangerous, to foreigners it is mostly tame and a curiosity.
Kabukicho has been a nest of prostitution, gangster offices, unlicensed bars and gambling for half a century or more and the community, the government and the citizens want to see it cleaned up.
Actually, since 2004 the police have become increasingly tough on the seedy establishments in the district, which is part of the urban center of Tokyo called Shinjuku, and hence closed down a large number of these scummy businesses.
This social renaissance referred to as the “Kihei Project” is happening and the cost of renting some of the more seedy government buildings is very attractive priced to some companies and entrepreneurs.
One such company, the comedy theater company, Yoshimoto Kogyo, has rented a 3.8 million yen per month space and is now renovating the 4700 square meter former school to accommodate up to 1000 patrons per performance.
This is truly a ground-floor opportunity to participate in the resurgence of this blighted area in the heart of Tokyo. I suspect this area will become the next Asian Bollywood or Broadway. The infrastructure is superb and now that the police are cleaning out the dregs, the time to act is now.
Join SIJ Mastermind and Networking Seminars
Twitter
Facebook