Kabukicho - A town that always has been, and always will be , a place where people gather to express themselves .
Japan's first “talk" live hours is a place you can get a real sense for memories, remnants, and the future.

Loft/Plus One, a live house operating in a corner of Shinjuku, moved to Kabukicho in 1998. When it first opened in 1995 as the first talk-only live house in Japan, there were days when no customers came at all, but, as it continued to carry out live talk shows day and night on all subjects, including the political, erotic, and otaku-esque as a place with no taboos, it spread by word of mouth, and became known by a number of catch phrases, including "the palace of Shinjuku subculture (Akio Nakamori)", "the otaku holy land (Shunichi Karasawa)", and "the ruough-and-tumble bar (Kunio Suzuki)".
The chaotic atmosphere it had when it opened, with crowds of every type mixing together, was called a "Mixing pot of cul ture" by Li ly Frank y, who performed there at the time. Loft/Plus One may have been destined to move to Kabukicho, Asia's greatest entertainment district, where all human dreams and desires surge and billow.
In 1998, Kabukicho was overtaken by the end of the millennium, the Koma Theater, a symbolic establishment, played performances by Sburo Kitajima day after day, and was visited by countless visitors from regional Japan afternoon, and was witness to crowds of decadent youths gathering behind the Koma Theater at night. The Hayashi Building next door was home to the Kingston Club, an older reggae club on the second basement floor (which was home to the Mokuba jazz cafe even further back), which is where Loft/Plus One moved in. The Scalaza music cafe and Katyusha, a singing cafe, were still going strong nearby. Kabukicho began as a black market af ter the war, and changed over the ages as a place of theater, jazz, vagabonds, the Zenkyoto, disco, and gangs, following the trends of youth culture, and I still remember the excitement of stepping into such a stimulating place.

Af ter moving, Lof t /Plus One's capacity was suddenly increased from a tight 50 people, to 150, and slowly became more popular using the benefits of being close to the Koma Theater. Still, it maintained its underground feel, and went from a place only those in the know. Into one in the lime light, which actually caused its shadows to deepen.
The erotic genres were particularly popular, being that Kabukicho was Japan's foremost red light district.
MANZOKU and Naitai, the two largest red light district magazines, each sponsored events, and I watched customers play strip rock paper scissors with the most popular ladies and reflected on how fantastic humans are. (Laughs)

I believe that politics and the erotic are always incredibly important to subculture, and hold a large number of events with political or social themes at Loft/Plus One. Shinji Miyadai, a sociologist and frequent performer, did field work on adult phone chatting (which existed all over Kabukicho at the time), and did his analyses on youth culture at the end of the millennium, which was rife with trend conscious girls, with a theme of "endless routine". Motoji Takasu, who was said to be the progenitor of "hair nudes", was another frequent performer at Plus One. He unfortunately passed away last year of an illness, but his "Mature Queen Contest" was held 25 times as one of Plus One's more famous events, with nearly 200 mature women performing.
Mr. Takasu always insisted on holding the event every year on October 21. This was the day of the Shinjuku Riot in 1968 for International Anti-War Day, and is also the day that he broke into the Defense Agency, and was arrested in 69. He participated in the Zenkyoto movement as a student, and would always say, "We can hold events like these thanks to peace. Say no to terror, and yes to the erotic! No to war, and yes to peace!"
It's been 22 years since Loft/Plus One moved to Kabukicho, and it has seen a lot. We held the first event by Kazuyoshi Miura after he was arrested for suspicion of crime in Los Angeles, which was a massive scandal, and we held a showing of the movie Yasukuni, which conservatives from all over the nation came to see which (while stressful at the time) are great memories now. Filming for The Day He Chose His Own Fate, directed by the deceased Koji Wakamatsu, was also done in our store. I sometimes think that we are only able to hold exciting events at Loft/Plus One every day and night is thanks to the passion found in Kabukicho. The Koma Theater, Scalaza, and Katyusha are gone now, but they are places where places where many gathered to share time with one another, which is a fact the remains in memory and within the town, which you can truly feel. I believe that to come to Kabukicho is to live a piece of history. Wlecome to Kabukicho.

(By: Umezo Kato / Loft/Plus One Representative)


LOFT / PLUS ONE

[Phone] 03-3205-6864
[Address] Address
[Hours of Operation] change by the live

The information hub of Shinjuku. Live talk shows that combine all types of genre are held here every night.




Shinjuku LOFT Zirco Tokyo
03-5272-0382
[Address] 12-9 kabuki Cho 1-chome Tatehana Building B2
[Hours of Operation] change by the live
"ROCKIN'COMMUNICATION" is none other than the live house that hasoverseenthe rock scene in Shinjuku since 1976.
03-6278-9190
[Address] Toyo BLD.B2F 1-2-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
[Hours of Operation] change by the live
They have the latest facilities, and are located across from the Shinjuku Ward Office. The wide bar lounge separates smoking and non-smoking seats, with large smoking areas.
Shinjuku BLAZE Live House Shinjuku RUIDO K4
03-5155-5990
[Address] Annex B2F 21-7 Kabukicho 1 chome Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
[Hours of Operation] change by the live
It is Kabukicho's largest live house, and plays all genres of music, including Visual-kei and Idol.
03-5292-5125
[Address] 2-13 Kabuki Cho 1-chome Sinko Building B2F
[Hours of Operation] 13:00 - 22:00
They carry on the traditions of Ruido, and provide high quality entertainment as a next-generational live house.
Marble LIVE HOUSE ACB HALL
03-5272-3558
[Address] 45-2 Kabuki Cho 2-chome Sinjuku Just Building B1F
[Hours of Operation] 14:00 - 22:00
It is an exception spase, where all kinds of expression are performed, including music, comedy, and art.
03-3205-0901
[Address] ACB BLD.B2F 2-36-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
[Hours of Operation] change by the live
It has seen the birth of countless famous artists. It began its 50th year in business in 2018.