Last week, Japanese lawmakers voted to remove a longstanding ban on dancing past midnight. CNN reports the law originates after World World II when Americans occupied Japan. During that time dance halls had become a front for prostitution, which was prevalent in the impoverished nation.
The events leading to the ban’s overturn was a movement led by a group named Let’s Dance, which collected 150,000 signatures on a petition calling for the end of a ban they called obsolete and oppressive. In 2014, a parliamentary committee submitted a revision to the dancing law to Parliament, which then underwent revision by the government and police. Lawmakers approved the revised law last week.
The Malaya Mail reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pushed an economic agenda, “Abenomics” to fight deflation in Japan’s economy in the past decade. Japan, which is the world’s third-largest economy, has a high standard of living and demand for an exciting nightlife.
While the ban was largely unenforced, lawmakers may also have felt pressure to change the law with the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The athletes and tourists will want to sample Tokyo’s nightlife that does not include confusing dancing restrictions.
Despite the dancing ban, Tokyo is the home to several dance clubs, on par with other world cities. While the police generally looked the other way with late night dancing, there have been club raids. Club goers may dance freely and legally.
