• Sat. Feb 7th, 2026

Japan Subculture Research Center

A guide to the Japanese underworld, Japanese pop-culture, yakuza and everything dark under the sun.

The elections in Japan 101 : regime change or LDP 🎉 party

Imagine Japan as a stage and the LDP as the lead actor, playing the same role since 1955, almost like a Broadway star who refuses to age out of their…

Update: Tigran Gambaryan, American Hero and Good Guy is Free!

UPDATE: The Nigerian Government dropped the charges against Tigran circa October 23rd and he is now home.

Ex-Mt. Gox CEO eyes crypto for all with new initiative EllipX, Japan slow to get on board

Yesterday the former CEO of infamous Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox announced the release of a new crypto initiative. The new company, called EllipX (pronounced “el-ip-ex”), consists of the EllipX…

The Real-Life Kamurochō: A Yakuza History Lesson with Tokyo Noir’s Jake Adelstein

The Real-Life Kamurochō: A Yakuza History Lesson with Tokyo Vice’s Jake Adelstein We explore Tokyo’s Kabukicho, the inspiration behind the central setting of the series formerly known as Yakuza. (originally…

Telepathy (以心伝心) and Other Coincidences (奇遇)

I was writing to a former intern at Japan Subculture Research Center, Fresca, and asked her to send me her thesis to read—just as she mailed me. I think I…

The Race To Run Tokyo: Who’s going to be the next governor of the megapolis?

Will The Empress Continue To Reign? Probably.

Battle for Venus: Kamakura’s 68-Year-Old Cafe Faces Forced Eviction

The iconic 68-year-old Venus Café faces demolition, yet Kamakura City stands firm, leaving no room for discussion or clarification.

The Silent Fraud: How A Brunei Group of Conmen Swindled Japanese Nationals for Years

For years, Brunei has been ensnaring over 100 Japanese nationals in scams, while authorities from both sides fail to collaborate toward a resolution.

How a sumo tournament led to the downfall of the yakuza

The yakuza, Japan’s infamous organised crime syndicates, have gone into a death spiral in recent years and Jake Adelstein says it is partly due to an incident at a sumo…

Japan’s Finest: The Top 3 Condoms for Your Pleasure

On the hunt for the perfect condom to suit your needs? Look no further — here are the top three preferences in Japan!