Originally enacted in 1948, Japan’s Fueiho law—which states that venues under 66 meters-squared cannot obtain a license to allow patrons to dance—has been used as a means to dampen the country’s nightlife in recent years. The fight to reverse this draconian law has grown in visibility recently as well, with the title of DJ Sprinkles’ 2013 mix album for Mule Musiq, When Dancefloors Stand Still, intended as a reference to the law, while Resident Advisor’s excellent Real Scenes: Tokyo documentary provided an in-depth look at the situation on the ground. Now, word has come that a Japanese government committee has voted to loosen the controversial Fueiho law.

Japanese website Mainichi reports that a government committee unanimously voted to loosen the law, recommending further that “dance clubs be covered by the same law that regulates restaurants, allowing them to stay open until late at night.” The committee’s vote does not simply reverse the law though as its findings will need to be formally reported to other parts of the government before any substantial action can take place. Still, the vote appears to be a big step in the right direction for Japan’s nightlife with committee chair Motoyuki Oka even going so far as to call the law “out of date.” While the process to loosen Japan’s Fueiho law begins its bureaucratic chain of events, RA’s recent documentary on Tokyo’s electronic music scene can be watched here. (via Resident Advisor)