Culture of Shibuya

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Shibuya is a popular district in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It is constantly crowded with young men and women, and it is known for its leadership in fashion. The crossroad in front of Shibuya station, where the Keio-Inokashira, Yamanote, Shonan-Shinjuku, Tokyu-Toyoko, and Ginza Lines stop, is known as the “scramble crossroad,” for pedestrians swarm in all directions during a green light. It is a popular place for shopping and just hanging out.

Many fashion trends are born in Shibuya. For example, "loose socks," a type of socks worn by Japanese junior and senior high school girls, are said to have come into fashion starting in Shibuya. The extremely short miniskirts of female students’ school uniforms are also a common sight in Shibuya.

Many new words are also formed in Shibuya. There are also examples such as “ikemen”, which stands for a good-looking man, and “mukatsuku,” which means frustrating, annoying, or irritating. These new trends and words are started by the young people who assemble at Shibuya.

Along with many food chain stores and departments for the young generation, there are karaoke bars and game centers in every corner. Basically, there are many shops targeting the youth that come to Shibuya. Purikura, or print club, stations (where you can take pictures in a booth and print them out onto stickers) are essential spots for young girls to pass time.

At night, Shibuya has a reputation for being a dangerous city. Even at midnight, young people gather and hang around. It is said that drug dealing takes place on the streets of Shibuya, and especially in clubs and bars. In Shibuya, it is not unusual to come across a teenage girl, who has run away from home, roaming the streets.

People of other countries will probably find Shibuya amusing. It is an interesting place to take tourists to, because it is one of the cities that symbolizes the center of Tokyo, and represents the youth of Japan. A new Japanese culture is being originated in Shibuya.