Japan's nightclubs weather dancing ban

Hey, some good news. I can do the robot dance btw.

"However, Japan’s National Police Agency remains stubbornly opposed. . . . [T]hey don’t want drunken club-goers fighting in the streets.”

I wasn't aware the NPA was in the position of dictating civil laws and regulations in Japan's democracy. The determination of civil codes is not and should not be something the police have a voice in. That's what duly elected public legislatures representing the voice of the People, not the police, are for.

It seems the NPA has forgotten that their job is merely to to enforce the law, not create it, and that the days of the Kenpaitai are all but finished. NPA "opposition" to revising this law is absurd.

Great photo.

People have been abducted from pachinko parlors,murdered on mountains and drowned in rivers - should there be a ban in these too?

Great photo. Did you enlarge it??? I guess not. Just two more j-girls who can't walk in heels and look terrible in a bathing a suit.

I guess I must be too "old-fashioned"... Those pictures of "dancing" are not exactly what I had in mind... I used to love dancing in Paris nightclubs "cheek-to-cheek" with my boyfriend...

Arcane laws enforced by Edo period plonkers.

@Cricky

"Edo Plonkers".

Good name for a band. ; )

Just two more j-girls who can't walk in heels and look terrible in a bathing a suit.

"Just two more j-girls"

I doubt all of them are Japanese.

"who can't walk in heels"

You say that as if its a bad thing. Besides, walking is not the point here.

"look terrible in a bathing a suit."

I'll be the judge of that.

The one on the left looks real nasty.

Bilder

Fair enough. What makes you happy is what makes you happy.

Still, I try not to judge other's tastes. Each to his own.

They are just going the full Bapist.

In the 1930s the nationalists who led Japan into a calamitous war banned western music, including jazz, as being "un-Japanese." What we have been suffering through this ridiculous ban is the latest manifestation of an ideological imposition of 'traditional' cultural values by Japan's old farts.

This law has been incredibly embarrassing for Japan, showing how out of step it is with other modern nations, and very harmful for its image around the world. It's just another example of how youth culture is marginalized, emasculated and homogenized by the ossified Japanese system.

Ken Ishii is right, dancing is not a crime, but the authorities want to ban it because it's a symbol of freedom and personal expression.

The sooner this nonsense is overturned, the better.

I didn't realize that Japan was a puritan nation.

Back in the early 90s when Techno came along I knew some clubs where it was the opposite rule: dancing was mandatory. Japanese need a few slices of that mentality.

Tokyo's status as one of the world's clubbing capitals...

It really isn't.

I used to go clubbing every weekend in Tokyo and I can tell you for a fact that the place has died since these laws came into effect. Most of the big clubs have changed to lounges, and the clientele has changed with that. Not worth it anymore!

I wasn't aware the NPA was in the position of dictating civil laws and regulations in Japan's democracy. The determination of civil codes is not and should not be something the police have a voice in. That's what duly elected public legislatures representing the voice of the People, not the police, are for.

The problem is that most laws in Japan are actually proposed by the executive, which of course inevitably incorporates input from governmental agencies including the NPA. If the NPA or another major agency says no, the executive becomes more reluctant to push a new law to the Diet.

Also the NPA also clearly knows the limits - they are allowed to do as they want by a relatively apathetic Japanese public but they know what would happen if they really start getting in the way. So until recently they fight to keep the law on the books but avoid inciting the public by being passive on enforcing it. For some reason they are now breaking this unspoken rule, this law is brought out in the air, and it is in a losing fight.

These laws are so stupid here in Japan! No dancing after 12 midnight?? What kind of an idiot fool would come up with that kind of law?? Just as stupid or as lame as the if you are paying for sex, you can do many things but it is ILLEGAL to stick your pecker in the poon tang?? This is NO JOKE!

@elbuda well sodomy is a foul disgusting unnatural practice, why wouldnt it be illegal

@wtfjapan

What's foul, disgusting and unnatural is posts like yours, with their anti-gay nastiness...

You can't dance after midnight because it causes people to behave inappropriately, but you can have child pornagraphy in manga and anime form. Yes, a young teenager was unfortunately killed who was probably 18 or older, so I would say she was a adult in many countries. There is no direct correlation with dancing and the terrible incident. Unlike this situation, there is a stronger correlation between between the kiddie and the number of assaults, kidnappings and/or murders of children by mostly Japanese men.

If they really want to be the moral police then focus on the real problems.

P.S. From my experience here, most of the "neighbors" who typically complain about everything are usually jealous because for some reason they can't join in the fun. They can't be apart of the group, so they'll make hard on everyone else.

About time.

I run events all the time and we got hurt bad last year when the police cracked down on the clubs. However since the announcement that this would be changed we have had no problems even though the signs are still up in the clubs, we are dancing full throttle now! The police sees it as something that is going to change so they dont waist their energy on it anymore..... PEACE

Is there a statute of limitations? I danced in clubs in 2003,2005 and 2007, should I fear a return trip to Japan!

Glad to read the no dancing law will change for the better. Now if only my back and sciatica recovers, I'll be out there dancincig myself away.

The law has been enforced for years and years, it's the most stupid thing in Japan next to trains stopping at midnight, it's not a new thing, back in 2000 I had the police "check" events I was doing, just stopped the music for 1 min, they left after the club owners gave them a box of cake "for doing such a good job".

Japan has an early finish culture at its heart. Although there is no closing time on most bars, large parts of Japan are pretty dead after 9pm. Restaurants close at 9pm, last orders at 8pm. If you are staying at a ryokan, you are pretty much expected to be in bed by 10pm. Breakfast from 7pm, finished by 9, checkout by 10am.

I hope this goes into effect.. I have been shushed on several occasions as well for dancing. It is so weird that you cant dance legally....

Tokyo olympics? Lol lets sweep some laws under the carpet.... Its going to be hilarious. Not only for dancing laws... But also marijuana and tattoo laws as well ;)

Let the fun begin ;)