Koganecho, an area known since World War II for black marketing and brothels, was located along the Ōoka River in the ward. In preparation for Yokohama's 2009 150th anniversary celebrations of opening up as a port, police chased away the prostitutes from the area starting in 2005. Since then, the area has undergone redevelopment.Mitchell, Jon, "Koganecho transformed: from sleaze to teas", Japan Times, 24 March 2011, p. 10.
