Folk guerrilla protests in Shinjuku West Exit Plaza (1970s)

Folk guerrilla protests in Shinjuku West Exit Plaza (1970s)

In the 1970s, young people called "folk guerrillas" protested against the Vietnam War and social inequality in Shinjuku West Exit Plaza. 30 people were forcibly removed by police and arrested in the "Nishiguchi Folk Incident" on August 7, 1971, and folk singers Kan Mikami and Ryo Kagawa became iconic figures in the movement. The square became a symbol of urbanization and high economic growth. While the plaza was a symbol of urbanization and rapid economic growth, it was also a place where inequality was exposed. The activities of the folk guerrillas, as cultural resistance through music and art, had a profound impact on youth culture and the Japanese music scene. The movement was a significant event that reaffirmed the freedom of expression in public space and the possibility of social change.