They were called discos in the 1970s and 1980s and have been known as clubs since around the downfall of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. These are the places where people dance to music played by DJs - hangouts for youths and networking spots for up-and-coming artists. They are now at a crisis point.

A number of clubs, notably in Osaka, have been forced out of business since last year after police took action against them, including arresting their operators, based on the 1948 entertainment business control law.

The law obliges club operators to obtain business licenses, but many do not, because doing so would require them to close at midnight - their busiest time.

Music and dance lovers are alarmed by the seemingly sudden stiffening of police attitude, as the authorities have long given a tacit nod to such premises operating without licenses.