Until 2015, it was illegal to dance in Japan after midnight.

Until 2015, it was illegal to dance in Japan after midnight.

After several years of deliberation, Japan has ditched its ban on late night dancing. The change in legislation was formalised by Japan's House Of Councillors today (June 17), allowing clubs to now open past midnight if they meet certain conditions.

In what became known as “Japan's War on Dance,” police used the no dancing laws to arrest DJs and haul club patrons to police stations, where they were often tested for drugs. The new law says club seating areas can't be too dark, which is an attempt to discourage crime.

Japan has lifted a 67-year-old ban on dancing, to the delight of the nation's clubbers. The ban forbids public dancing unless the venue has a licence, and even licenced premises have to stop all dancing by midnight.