‘No State, No Masters’: Café Lavandería in Tokyo, Music, and Anticapitalism in a Cultural Environment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this study, the authors have investigated the cultural environment of a cafe located in the core of Shinjuku city. Although the topic is interesting and the paper is well-written, there are some major limitations that should be addressed before publication. The manuscript is too long and should be summarized in some parts to gather the focus of the readers. For example, the section An overview of Japan Political and social context can be summarized. Explanations on the city and the Cafe's atmosphere that are very specific and cannot be generalized for the Cafes in similar cultural environments should be omitted. The English of the manuscript is rather poor and requires native editing. The discussion part could be better, focusing on the results and finding a path for future studies.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

no

Author Response

Many thanks for your reading and review report. Here you have our considerations. 

The manuscript is too long and should be summarized in some parts to gather the focus of the readers. For example, the section An overview of Japan Political and social context can be summarized.

It is essential to include the political context of Japan. As Sugimoto points out, the image of homogeneity and a special society attributed to Japan is far from reality and aligns more with the principles of Nihonjinron (a nationalist and segregationist view of Japanese studies). Therefore, the authors deem it necessary to contextualize that dissenting thought, social tensions, and revolutionary phenomena have been (and continue to be) a constant in the history of Japan since the Meiji era. This clarification is essential, as is the inclusion of a paragraph stating the objective of this theoretical framework, which we will include if permitted.

Explanations on the city and the Cafe's atmosphere that are very specific and cannot be generalized for the Cafes in similar cultural environments should be omitted.

It is considered by the authors that we are not doing any generalization and always referring to Café Lavandería. 

The English of the manuscript is rather poor and requires native editing. 

English has been revised by a native English speaker, who happens to be scholar as well. 

The discussion part could be better, focusing on the results and finding a path for future studies.
This part has been reviewed and improved.

Sincerely,

The authors,
María José and Federico

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please see comments in the paper (word comments)

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English quality is average. The paper just needs some minor corrections.

Author Response

Many thanks for your reading and review report. Here you have our considerations. 


The English quality is average.
English has been revised by a native English speaker, who happens to be scholar as well. 

The paper just needs some minor corrections.
Corrections indicated in the report have been made.

Sincerely,

The authors,
María José and Federico