<div>What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabuki-cho, which 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 <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Shaun McKenna</a> and produced by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/david-cortez/">Dave Cortez</a>.

<strong>On this episode:</strong> 
Shaun McKenna: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jt_sloosh">X</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/slooshiness/">Instagram</a>
Alex K.T. Martin: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/219/alex-kt-martin/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/alexktmartin">X</a> 
Moeka Iida: <a href="https://x.com/moekaimnida">X</a> 
Yukana Inoue: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/4619/yukana-inoue/">Articles</a> 

<strong>Read more:</strong> </div>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/12/22/travel/christmas-golden-gai-tokyo-yokocho/">Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai</a> (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/26/japan/society/host-club-pay-later-system-prostitution/">How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt</a> (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times)</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2024/05/21/the-controversial-cult-of-the-host-club-in-japan?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=21228634515&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAqI2df-_eXZYYNmzYkc6d7Pr1jZqI&gclid=CjwKCAjw4_K0BhBsEiwAfVVZ_y5Uxq7eQ1Nze1AQqPXOOPr7hGakqaZN77Xyt95wv044ot_yF9XeKBoCpOUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">The controversial cult of the host club in Japan</a> (Moeka Iida, The Economist)</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/05/japan/society/toyoko-kids-tokyo-subculture/">Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo</a> (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<strong>Get in touch:</strong> 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 <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/">japantimes.co.jp</a>, and don’t forget to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/JapanDeepDive">X</a>!  

<strong><em>Photo: </em></strong><em>One of the many entrances to the Kabuki-cho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES</em>
</div>


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195: Kabuki-cho: Tokyo's 'stadium of desire'

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