Tohyo Cypher

Is the Tokyo metro government desperately trying to raise its street cred, or have the good bureaucrats of Nishi-Shinjuku actually come up with a new and effective way of reaching out to the city's youth? Both, perhaps: this very official rap battle takes place outside Shinjuku Station's east exit and is organised to encourage newly eligible voters aged 18 to 20 to cast their ballot in July's Upper House election. Yeah, you better believe it. More than 20 local MCs, including the likes of Hannya, Ginza Dopeness, Dotama, ACE, Cypress Ueno and Robert Yoshino, will be dropping rhymes over the weekend. We, for one, are still holding out for a freestyle cameo by guv'nor Yoichi Masuzoe himself.