[Part I] According to a spokesperson of the Metropolitan Tokyo government, there were far more than a thousand Yakuza members active in Kabukichō until 2005, controlling enterprises of all sorts, generating impressive profits and power. Today laws are more strictly enforced and cooperation with the underworld increased which, in my opinion, consequently will lead to a rather dull overall experience.

Clamping down on illegal clubs and brothels already drove a large number of unique and history-charged, culturally valuable “institutions” out of business. I am not quite sure if a government is the right candidate to run it’s own red-light districts. It kind of contradicts itself.