Roppongi
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROP : Roppongi
is a district of Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan, chiefly known for its nightlife and the presence of Western tourists and expatriates, although the vast majority of visitors are Japanese. It is in the southern portion of the circle described by the Yamanote Line, south of Akasaka and north of Azabu.
History
The name "Roppongi" literally means "six trees." Legend has it that the name comes from the fact that six daimyo lived nearby during the Edo period, each with the kanji character for "tree" or a kind of tree in their names.
Roppongi was a simple crossing of two streets until after the Meiji Restoration when it became a quartering area for the Imperial Japanese Army. After World War II, the United States Army moved in, beginning Roppongi's reputation as a foreigner neighborhood. Several large US military installations were located in the nearby area, with Hardy Barracks probably the most significant. In large part due to the US military presence, the area soon became crowded with Western-oriented shops, bars, restaurants, prostitution establishments and "hostess bars." Robert Whiting, Tokyo Underworld : The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan (Vintage Departures, 2000) ISBN 0375724893 Roppongi was administratively part of Azabu Ward from 1878 to 1947.
Starting in the late 1960's, Roppongi became popular among Japanese and foreigners alike for its disco scene, which attracted many of Tokyo's entertainment elites. Contributing to the international scene was the location of several foreign embassies and foreign corporate offices in the Roppongi area. However, many dance clubs shut down in the recession following the market crash of 1989.
The Roppongi area received a major economic boost in 2003 when Minoru Mori's Roppongi Hills high-rise complex was completed. The complex brought high-end office and condominium space to Roppongi for the first time.
Places in Roppongi
- Embassies of Singapore and the Philippines
- Izumi Garden Tower
- Roppongi Hills skyscraper complex
Nightlife
The area features numerous bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and other forms of entertainment including hostess clubs and cabarets. Prices for food and drink cover a wide range tending towards the more expensive, and some locations feature cover charges and elaborate pay systems that should be confirmed before entering. In general, Roppongi has a slightly sleazy yet sophisticated reputation. Among the Western expatriate community, it tends to be favored by business people and financial workers as well as off-duty military, while many English teachers and western academics living in Japan reportedly avoid the district, believing Roppongi's atmosphere to be "inauthentic" and "shallow" (citation or reference needed). Western celebrities and musicians are often spotted in Roppongi and anecdotal evidence suggests that they are more approachable here than they would be back in their "home" countries.
In the past, Roppongi had a reputation as an area with high Yakuza presence, whether as customers at Roppongi establishments, conducting business, or managing or owning clubs and bars in the area. However, although still exerting some influence in Roppongi, in recent times they appear to have shifted much of their presence to other districts in the Tokyo area.
The turnover of establishments is fairly high, but a few famous landmarks persist. The cheap "GasPanic" clubs and bars (there are 3 in Roppongi) have long been a favorite of the younger elements and were famous places for many years for young Japanese women to meet US military personnel stationed in Japan. The more "mature" crowd tends to gravitate to bars such as Motown. Velfarre, owned by Japanese entertainment mogul Tetsuya Komuro, was Asia's largest disco, and hosts Tokyo's most overhyped afterhours on Sunday mornings. In fact, several nightclubs reportedly stay open all night on Saturday nights until early Sunday afternoon. One Eyed Jacks is a long-running and famous example of a Roppongi Hostess Club. It is actually two Hostess Clubs that share the same name and space. One side caters to Westerners and Japanese that want to sit and talk with Western (typically Eastern European or Australian) girls that can speak English (some can also speak Japanese) while the other side is a more typical Japanese Hostess Club with young Japanese girls that only speak Japanese. Many of the true high-end Japanese Hostess Clubs will not allow Westerners to enter their establishments. There are also a number of other Western-style Hostess Clubs that cater to specific tastes in ethnic groups, such as clubs with solely Filipino or Romanian women.
The best nights for a typical Roppongi experience tend to be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Although Japan's long recession has blunted the scene somewhat, it is still an active and lively part of Tokyo.
Companies based in Roppongi
- Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
- Livedoor
- Rakuten
- TV Asahi
- Yahoo! Japan
Rail and subway stations
- Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line, Toei Oedo Line)
- Roppongi-itchome Station (Namboku Line)
External links
References
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