Set in Kabukicho, notably known as the biggest red-light district in Tokyo, we follow a group of people doing various jobs in the neighborhood. At the center of the story is St. Magokoro, a small old hospital where we meet our leads, Yoko Nishi Freeman, a former military doctor who came from America, and Toru Takamine, a beauty dermatologist.

I enjoyed this. I think Kudo is a master of presenting social issues in a way that’s both engaging and entertaining without losing sight of the heart of the issue. By now, it’s clear to me that he’s interested in exploring stories where people are presented with very morally challenging situations.

In Shinjuku Yasen Byouin, the writer explores the subjects of foreign migration, the contrast between the Japanese healthcare system and the West, and human equality, among others.

As I’ve mentioned before, he’s probably one of the few writers than I know that’s capable of making characters do questionable things yet you can’t help but root for. I didn’t like all of the characters, but none of them felt like they didn’t belong in this story. There’s a cohesive energy among them, which makes it so fun to watch.