Pen Magazine Launches YouTube Program 'B-side Town Walk'! Editor Kenro Hayamizu and Talent Mitsu Dan Explore the Hottest Spots in Various Towns, Connecting Them with History and Entertainment Works.

Street walk guides Hayamizu (left), who talks about how to enjoy Shibuya, and Dan (right), who is indoor-oriented and is exploring the “backside” of Shibuya for the first time.

Lifestyle magazine 'Pen' launched its YouTube program 'B-side Town Walk' on April 28, 2026. This series will be released on the 28th of every month. Each episode will feature a different town, exploring its lesser-known charms by connecting them with history and entertainment works, while also introducing current hot spots.

The program stars editor Kenro Hayamizu and talent Mitsu Dan. By touching upon the 'B-side' of each town and their unique perspectives, going beyond mere tourist attractions and famous places, new landscapes are sure to emerge.

The first episode focuses on Hyakkendana, a district full of mysterious charm located halfway up Shibuya's Dogenzaka. With new izakayas and craft beer specialty stores opening one after another, it is once again attracting attention as the 'backside' of Shibuya.

In fact, this area was the center of Shibuya until the 1960s, lined with cinemas and coffee shops where young people gathered. While cinemas showing classic films and coffee shops playing classical music formed a culture, the promiscuous atmosphere of the adjacent Maruyama-cho red-light district also flowed in, gradually transforming it into a unique area.

Furthermore, Hyakkendana in the 1950s is also the place where fortune teller Kazuko Hosoki spent her youth, as depicted in the Netflix drama 'You're Going to Hell' (Jigoku ni Ochiru wa yo). Based on old maps and archive photos, they also explore places associated with Hosoki.

What is the 'B-side' of Shibuya that Hayamizu and Dan discovered by unraveling the town's movements from such history and entertainment works, and by actually walking through the area?

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[Kenro Hayamizu's 'B-side' Town Walk] Guiding you through the 'backside' of Shibuya. Neo-izakayas and craft beer bars where young people secretly gather are opening one after another.

Click here for the official YouTube channel of 'Pen' magazine.

The second episode, to be released on May 28, will continue to explore the town of Shibuya. While delving into the resurgence of the record boom in recent years, they will visit Udagawa-cho and Koen-dori to listen to stories from key figures who supported the 90s music scene in Shibuya.

First Episode Index 00:00 Digest 00:45 Opening talk by hosts Kenro Hayamizu and Mitsu Dan 01:33 'Dogenzaka-dori', a new hidden route to Hyakkendana 05:50 'Mikkeller Tokyo', which triggered the rush of new stores 09:20 The 1960s, when it flourished as a town for young people 14:30 Searching for places associated with Kazuko Hosoki 16:41 Beer stand 'Stand Umineko SiB100' 17:35 Listening to 'Sakadokoro New Mansai', a neo-izakaya, about the changes in Hyakkendana

First Episode Keywords Kenro Hayamizu / Mitsu Dan / Shibuya / Hyakkendana / Dogenzaka-dori / Koibumi Yokocho / Jazz Cafe / Meikyoku Kissa Lion / Craft Beer / Mikkeller Tokyo / Chiyoda Inari Shrine / Seibu Group / Murugi / Kazuko Hosoki / You're Going to Hell / Netflix / Pilgrimage / Stand Umineko SiB100 / Snack Bar / Neo-Izakaya / Sakadokoro New Mansai

Cast ・Kenro Hayamizu Editor / Podcaster. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1973. Writes on a wide range of fields including urban theory, media history, film, and music. Hosts the podcast 'Kenro Hayamizu's This Is Not News'. Proposes new ways to enjoy Shibuya as a street walk guide.

・Mitsu Dan Talent. Born in Akita Prefecture in 1980. Gained attention as a gravure idol in 2010, then expanded her activities to film and television. Author of numerous books including 'Hanbun no Yuji to' and 'Danmitsu Saijiki'. Indoor-oriented and not accustomed to town walks, this is her first time exploring the 'backside' of Shibuya.

Highlights

[Featured Spots] Each episode features noteworthy spots in the area. Explanations and maps are also displayed, serving as a reference for actual town walks.

Restaurants and shops visited during the town walk also thoroughly introduce their signature products.

Lively conversations unfold inside the stores. Mitsu Dan's sharp yet unexpected comments are also a highlight.

[History] Through Hayamizu's historical commentary, viewers can learn how the 'present' of the land was formed.

Archive images from the time are also shown throughout the program. Feel the changes of the era and experience a sense of time travel. The image above shows Hyakkendana in the 1950s.

[Entertainment Works] In the first episode, the program touches upon the Netflix drama 'You're Going to Hell', and many of the entertainment works linked to the area are relatively recent, setting it apart from conventional town walks.

Referring to old maps, the program uniquely verifies the past and present locations of the settings that inspired the works.

Next Episode Preview The second episode will delve into the resurgence of the record boom, while exploring Udagawa-cho and Koen-dori to hear from key figures who supported the 90s music scene.