Kabukicho

[Jizmatik]

Hey Guys.

New FG. First post.

I will be visiting Tokyo later this year. I want to walk through Kabukicho documenting the naughty nitelife for an art project. Should I expect any resistance from yakuza when taking pictures of establishments and people?

[DJEB]

No.

If you do, use the Jedi mind-trick I learned when I was in kindergarten: flatter the person confronting you until they are thoroughly confused. If that doesn't work, they sell Counter Assault (pepper spray designed to repel grizzlies) here in Japan. That would surely work.

[cstaylor]

I will be visiting Tokyo later this year. I want to walk through Kabukicho documenting the naughty nitelife for an art project. Should I expect any resistance from yakuza when taking pictures of establishments and people?

Cool, I'm looking forward to catching you on the news.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Wow! What a coincidence. I was planning to bang a bunch of chicks in Kabukicho for a thesis I'm doing on STDs.

[mr. sparkle]

Hey Guys.

New FG. First post.

I will be visiting Tokyo later this year. I want to walk through Kabukicho documenting the naughty nitelife for an art project. Should I expect any resistance from yakuza when taking pictures of establishments and people?

You won't be able to document anything but cold stares by scout men and girls turning away from your camera.

....unless you're Rob Pongi!

Shoot first - apologize later.

[Jizmatik]

Alright gentlemen and ladies.

I was extremly serious when I was asking this. Has no one heard of Nobuyoshi Araki or Daido Moriyama?

I am a big guy and can take care of myself. I only ask this because in Rio, Brazil an undercover journalist was killed because he was in the favela(slum) documenting(filming) the drug trade.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Alright gentlemen and ladies.

I was extremly serious when I was asking this. Has no one heard of Nobuyoshi Araki or Daido Moriyama?

I am a big guy and can take care of myself. I only ask this because in Rio, Brazil an undercover journalist was killed because he was in the favela(slum) documenting(filming) the drug trade.

Do you even really have to ask? Have you ever heard of organized cirme anywhere being open to having their illegal activities getting filmed?

[Jizmatik]

Thanks guys for the answers, helpful and not.

Samurai Guy: Yes, I have to ask. It is in my interest to do so.

PS Was not comparing Rio to Shinjuku, just relating a story.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Thanks guys for the answers, helpful and not.

Samurai Guy: Yes, I have to ask. It is in my interest to do so.

PS Was not comparing Rio to Shinjuku, just relating a story.

If you're really concerned about your safety this is probably not the best resource.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I only ask this because in Rio, Brazil an undercover journalist was killed because he was in the favela(slum) documenting(filming) the drug trade.

What was that guy's deal anyway? He had to know that filming drug dealers in a Rio favela was asking for trouble. Even walking within a block of a favela was enough to make me wary. Was he clueless or did he just see the danger as part the job (like a war correspondent)?

[Jizmatik]

Guys.

You are probably right this is not the best source. I was just looking for experiences and stories related to yakuza, how territorial they are and such to outsiders.

Regarding the journalist in Brazil: I don't mean to be patronizing but journalists who are dedicated to telling a story no matter the price are willing to risk their lives and face danger. The level of their sanity is I suspose at your discretion to decide.

Later!

[cstaylor]

Cool, "foreigner gutted like a fish by local chapter of the "Society To Repel the Foreign Barbarians and Save Our Women" while shooting film in the seedy underbelly of Japan. When asked, Tokyo Governor Ishihara responded, "It was probably those Chinese mafia guys, dressed up in WW2-era Japanese uniforms."

[kamome]

Guys.

You are probably right this is not the best source. I was just looking for experiences and stories related to yakuza, how territorial they are and such to outsiders.

Jiz,

You did right by coming here and asking for advice. Don't listen to the trolls.

[cstaylor]

Don't listen to the trolls.

Hey, I'm a midget, not a troll.

[emperor]

Ive strolled around Kabukicho stopping to take footage at frequent intervals and did get any hassle - other than the obvious approaches by the drag-you-into-a-health-bar dudes...

maybe i was lucky? but i dont think the yaks would pay much attention - in fact i think youd be lucky to see any usually any at all

i think you be better off by yourself as youd draw less attention then going with a group and you could pretend to be reviewing footage when your actually recording.

but to be honest kabukicho "aint all that and a bag of potato-chips"
to get any good footage youd need to go into the clubs which would probably require a hidden cam - and then there are those clubs which dont allow gaijin entry...

[Jizmatik]

Thanks Emperor.

I have seen other Japanese photographers/journalists get into these clubs like Nobuyoshi Araki and Daido Moriyama and even Romain Clocombe who did a photobook called Tokyo Sex Underground.

I guess a good question is that in terms of adult entertainment what percentage is owned by average Japanese and what percentage is controlled by organized crime? I am not looking for an answer to this question on this board just something I guess I will have to find out.

For example, I read a story on some so-called yakuza trying to extort money from a female brothel owner...

[devicenull]

for some odd reason, i only see things like this resulting in more exclusion from yak operated businesses for us poor gaijin.

dont get yourself killed

[gkanai]

I was extremly serious when I was asking this. Has no one heard of Nobuyoshi Araki or Daido Moriyama?

Jiz, you are an FG. Araki and Moriyama are Japanese.

BIG difference. Duh.