Japan's Clubland Weathers Dancing
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SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 These pictures taken on June 15, 2014 shows people enjoying a club event in Tokyo. — AFP photos Japan’s clubland weathers dancing ban amous for its neon lights and wild nightlife, Tokyo’s status as cities quickly felt the pinch. Big-name DJ Takkyu Ishino had a set emerge ninja-like from the shadows with torches, politely ‘shushing’ one of the world’s clubbing capitals looks set to survive a broken up in Fukuoka when police crashed in and shut down the patrons as they leave, so as not to upset the neighbors and reduce Fpotentially ruinous police crackdown on-of all things-dancing. party in 2012. Ishino’s angry response on social media, “Dance is not the risk of a police raid. The International Olympic Committee’s deci- In the topsy-turvy world of Japan’s clubland, party-goers currently a crime”, has been retweeted over 3,700 times. sion to award the 2020 Games to Tokyo brought into sharp relief the risk being arrested for failing to obey “No Dancing” signs at venues. current state of affairs for club owners. “Can you imagine foreign An antiquated law prohibiting dancing after midnight, zealously Power Cut athletes coming for the Olympics, wanting to party and getting enforced by police in recent years, has decimated much of Japan’s Fellow techno mega-star Ken Ishii said: “I’ve had clubs cut the arrested for dancing?” said Kimura. “It’s ridiculous. But we’re very dance scene, with Tokyo taking some big hits. power to seem quiet inside because cops were snooping around close now to being able to change the law now.” However, with one eye on the 2020 Olympics, which was last the entrance. This law looks weird today.” Tokyo club owners have year awarded to Tokyo, Japanese lawmakers have decided the time also been arrested for permitting dancing after hours, while Japan’s Police Opposition has come to change the party-pooping rule. A government commit- hedonistic beach raves have been strangled by red tape. The prob- However, Japan’s National Police Agency remains stubbornly tee last month agreed the Law on Control and Improvement of lem stems from classifications. Because nightclubs serve alcohol, opposed. The original 1948 law was tightened in the 1980s after a Amusement Business, introduced in 1948 to curb prostitution at they fall into the same legal category as cabaret bars, where cus- teenage girl was murdered in Tokyo after being picked up at a disco. dance halls, needed overhauling. “This law is unnecessary,” commit- tomers pay to drink in the company of hostesses. Generally speak- “The yakuza (Japanese organized crime syndicate members) aren’t tee secretary general Tsukasa Akimoto, of the ruling Liberal ing they must close by midnight, prompting Tokyo’s famous super- really involved in the club scene-it doesn’t pay enough,” said Democratic Party, told AFP. “Why should dancing be illegal? clubs to skirt the law by operating as “live music” venues, where Kimura. “Drugs are not a big problem in Japanese clubs. But what Obviously the Olympics are a factor. It’s realistic to expect the law to dancing is banned. Or at least certain movements are. “Stupid as it the police tell us constantly is they don’t want drunken club-goers be changed by the end of this year.” sounds, you can sway back and forth but not side to side,” said DJ fighting in the streets.” Tokyo prides itself as having one of the world’s most vibrant Ko Kimura, a founding member of the C4 pressure group, which But with Olympics coming to Tokyo, Ishii, who composed the clubbing cultures yet for years the city’s famed nightspots have meets regularly with politicians and police chiefs. theme tune for the 1998 Winter Games, insisted the future looks technically been operating illegally. After decades of turning a blind “The police could come in and bust people any time, like writing bright. “There’s a better atmosphere,” he said. “I hope this vibe con- eye to the clubs, a police crackdown began following the 2010 speeding tickets,” he added. “But as long as there’s no trouble or tinues and we see a reasonable law passed which will boost the cul- death of a 22-year-old student after a fight in an Osaka club. Hit by a noise, they don’t.” Owners take no chances, hanging ‘No dancing’ tural scene.” — AFP wave of raids, most of the city’s venues were shut down for licensing signs and banning words such as “DJ” and “dance”, as well as closing violations, pulling the plug on Osaka’s thriving dance scene. Other times, from event info. Security guards outside Tokyo’s dance clubs Lyricist Gerry Goffin, ex-husband of singer Carole King, dead at 75 erry Goffin, the lyricist who co-wrote Other notable hits co-written by Goffin and some of the biggest hit songs of the King included “Up on the Roof” by the Drifters, G1960s with his former wife and longtime “One Fine Day” by the Chiffons, “I’m Into collaborator Carole King, died on Thursday at Something Good” by Herman’s Hermits, “Will age 75, King said in a message posted on You Love Me Tomorrow” by the Shirelles, “Take Facebook. Goffin, who died of natural causes at Good Care of My Baby” by Bobby Vee, “Don’t his Beverly Hills home, co-wrote numerous top- Bring Me Down” by the Animals, “Take a Giant 40 singles with King, including “The Loco- Step” by the Monkees and “Goin’ Back” by the Motion,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Birds. Goffin met and married King in 1958 while Woman,” and “Up on the Roof,” most of which attending Queens College. The couple were lat- were hits for other performers. er hired by pop music producer Don Kirshner to “Gerry Goffin was my first love,” King, 72, said write songs for his song publishing firm, Aldon in a tribute posted on her Facebook page. “He Music.— Reuters This January 12, 2014 file photo shows Gerry Goffin attending the opening night of ‘Beautiful had a profound impact on my life and the rest of - The Carole King Musical’ at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City. — AP the world. ... His words expressed what so many people were feeling but didn’t know how to say.” One of their most popular songs, the No. 1 hit “The Loco-Motion,” ignited a dance craze Gerry Goffin’s key songs written with Carole King and was originally performed by the singer Little Eva, who was working for the couple as a “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” The Shirelles Ross babysitter when they asked her to record it in “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” Aretha Franklin “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” Gladys Knight and the Pips 1962. “Take Good Care of My Baby,” Bobby Vee “Saving All My Love for You,” Whitney Houston The bluesy love song “Chains” was first “The Loco-Motion,” Little Eva “Run to Him,” Bobby Vee recorded by the Cookies but later covered by “Go Away Little Girl,” Steve Lawrence “Miss You Like Crazy,” Natalie Cole the Beatles. Queen of soul Aretha Franklin hit “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” The Monkees Gerry Goffin’s key songs written “Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp Bomp Bomp Bomp),” Barry Mann. the charts with “Natural Woman,” but King her- without Carole King: — AP self later recorded the ballad as a track on her “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To),” Diana breakthrough 1971 solo album “Tapestry.”.