### Jazz and night crowd in front of Shinjuku Shokuhan - early 1970s

### Jazz and night crowd in front of Shinjuku Shokuhan - early 1970s

In the first half of the 1970s, Japan was in the final stages of its rapid economic growth, and the first oil crisis of 1973 was beginning to cause anxiety. At the same time, however, urban culture was maturing, and Shinjuku, in particular, was a uniquely attractive nightlife district. During the day, Shinjuku was a bustling business district and shopping district, but at night it transformed into a cultural melting pot of students, workers, writers, and artists.

The store in the documented "Shinjuku Shokuan-mae Maruishi Building B1" was widely known as a place to enjoy drinks with jazz, and remained open until late at night. The clientele ranged from businessmen to students, who gathered there in search of freedom from the order and discipline of the day. There, improvised jazz music echoed, and people talked over drinks and sought new values in each other's company.

During this period, the Japanese jazz scene was beginning to transcend the influences brought in through the U.S. military after the war, and Japanese players were beginning to carve out their own unique forms of expression. The restaurant was more than just a place to eat and drink; it was also a cultural spot that symbolized Shinjuku at night, a center of exchange where music, literature, politics, and social movements intersected. It was a cultural spot that symbolized Shinjuku at night. The place that sprang up in the corner in front of Shinjuku Shokuhan was a mirror that reflected the breath of the times and the passion of the people.