Neighborhood history and pop culture
After its train station opened in 1914, Shin-Okubo remained a quiet residential neighborhood. In the aftermath of World War II, it took on the appearance of a slum as Korean workers, brought to Japan during the colonization of Korea, settled there. The first Korean restaurants appeared, and in the 1950s, the Lotte confectionery factory, founded by Korean businessman Zainichi Shin Kyuk-ho, attracted new immigrants.
It was not until the 1990s, with the growing popularity of Korean dramas in Japan, that the neighborhood became a center of South Korean popular culture. Today, K-pop and skincare are driving the local economy. Not to mention gastronomy!
On the other side of the station, towards Okubo, the neighborhood has been home to a large Muslim community since the 2000s. Known as “Islam Yokocho,” this part of the neighborhood offers a lively atmosphere with its halal markets, Indonesian and Malaysian restaurants, and small mosque.
In the media, Shin-Okubo is mainly mentioned in reports on K-pop in Japan, illustrating its role as a cultural crossroads.
AloJapan.com