I’m heading to Osaka in December. I used to spend a lot of time in Japan in my twenties but haven’t visited since 2013. I’ve only been to Osaka once and have fond memories of partying in a merseyside bar and smoking some weird artificial weed.
Now I’m heading back I’m not quite the party animal I used to be but I still love exploring “alternative” spaces- for lack of a better word. I can easily google major galleries/music venues/shops/bars. But I was wondering if anyone had any recs for some cool “underground” scenes? Where do the ultra cool uni kids hang out? What’s cool to them now? Where I live there are lots of unconventional venues that host great alt and punk music (a lawn bowls club or polish society club come to mind)- if you were a tourist you might miss it as it seems weird to think cool, punk kids would be hanging out at a lawn bowls club. That’s the kind of “scene” I’m interested in finding.
I’d also love to learn more about Japanese progressive resistance. Both contemporary and historical. What’s Marxism like over there? Feminist spaces? Urban farming or other community based initiatives would be super interesting too!!! Are there any leftist “spaces”? Maybe community centres or galleries?
by remington_420