Shinsekai is Osaka’s “New World.” It was prosperous before WWll and then essentially neglected for years afterwards. It slowly built back up and now it’s active, plus, it’s considered to be one of “Japan’s most dangerous neighborhoods.” There’s a big homeless population outside the train station and Shinsekai has a lot of prostitutes conducting their business without much police interference.

Blowfish are a common delicacy here and you see a lot of “Billikens:” a doll figure that was actually created by an American art teacher, but Japan has kind of adopted it. It is something like a “no worries” doll. Hence, you’ll see in the pics below, the phrase, “Things as they ought to be.”

The nostalgic symbol of Shinsekai, the Tsutenkaku Tower, is planted right in the center of the district.

17apr14. Osaka, Japan. Shinsekai.