"Once upon a time, there was a star called the 'Angel Star.' Far away from earth, it was a place where angels lived in peace and could often be found playing with fish by the seaside. One day, the Prince of the Angel Star returned from a long journey. He had traveled to a lovely star named 'Chikyu' [Earth] and found a wonderful city there, where people from many different cultures lived together in harmony. The Angels became so excited by the Prince's story that the Prince took them to the lovely city of Shin-Okubo ..."

Found on postcards in various shops throughout Shin-Okubo, the story of the "City of Angels" is somewhat ironic: The harmony described by the Prince doesn't actually exist. Located in the center of Shinjuku Ward, Shin-Okubo is known for its high crime rate and is often referred to as Tokyo's "combat zone."

But Hiroko Kodama, who wrote the story under the pen name Okubo Tenshi, says the angel motif acts as a positive in what is otherwise a city of negatives. Owner of local clothing shop Yanagiya, she says that the story acts as a reminder that things can get better. "Angels are considered worldwide to be a symbol of peace of mind, and that is exactly the image we were looking for in our community," says Kodama.