Finding an Apartment in Namba: What Foreigners Actually Need to Know About Osaka's Most Iconic District

Find an appartment in Namba

When foreigners think about living in Osaka, Namba often tops their wish list. The neon-lit streets of Dotonbori, the endless entertainment options, the feeling of being right in the heart of everything—it's easy to understand the appeal. But here's what most apartment search platforms won't tell you: finding a place to rent in Namba as a foreigner involves navigating a complex system that operates very differently from what you might expect.

At Maido Estate, we work with foreign residents every day who come to us after weeks of frustration trying to secure an apartment in this area. The challenge isn't just about finding available listings—it's about understanding why the system works the way it does, what actually matters to Japanese landlords, and where the real friction points lie for international tenants.

Why Namba Appeals to Foreigners—and Why That Creates Complications

Namba sits at the heart of Osaka's Minami district, functioning as one of the city's two major downtown hubs. The area offers something most foreigners prioritize: convenience without compromise. Multiple train lines converge here—JR, Kintetsu, Nankai, Hanshin, and three separate Osaka Metro subway lines. You're 45 minutes from Kansai Airport via direct Nankai express trains, 8 minutes from Umeda, and walking distance to Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, and Amerikamura.

For someone new to Japan, especially someone without strong Japanese language skills, this connectivity feels essential. You can navigate your daily life, get to work, explore the city, and catch your flight home—all from one central location. Add in the concentration of international restaurants, English-speaking businesses, and a general comfort level with foreign visitors, and Namba starts to look like the obvious choice.

But here's the reality from a landlord's perspective: these same features that attract foreigners also create hesitation. High-traffic tourist areas, dense entertainment districts, and transient populations raise concerns about noise complaints, short-term turnover, and tenants who might not fully understand or respect Japanese residential norms. When a property owner in Namba considers leasing to a foreign tenant, these concerns aren't abstract—they're based on years of operating in this specific environment.

The Namba Rental Market: Understanding Inventory and Competition

The rental market in central Namba operates in distinct segments, each with different dynamics for foreign applicants. Understanding these segments matters because it directly affects your approval odds and the approach your broker needs to take.

The Station-Adjacent Zone

Properties within a 5-minute walk of any Namba station command premium prices, typically starting at ¥70,000-¥90,000 for a studio (1R or 1K). These buildings tend to be newer constructions or recently renovated properties, and they're managed by larger property management companies that handle dozens or hundreds of units across Osaka.

This segment presents a specific challenge for foreigners: the management companies use standardized screening criteria that often include Japanese guarantor requirements, minimum income thresholds calculated in specific ways, and documentation that assumes a Japanese employment contract. While guarantor companies can sometimes substitute for a personal guarantor, the management company must specifically approve that arrangement—and many don't.

The irony is that these are often the exact properties foreigners want: modern, convenient, with proper soundproofing and updated facilities. But the institutional screening processes create bottlenecks that individual negotiation can't always overcome.

The Surrounding Neighborhoods

Move 10-15 minutes away from Namba Station—into areas like Nippombashi, parts of Nishinari-ku near Shin-Imamiya, or the quieter residential pockets between Namba and Tennoji—and the market dynamics shift considerably. Rent typically drops to ¥45,000-¥65,000 for comparable space, and crucially, you're more likely to encounter independent landlords or smaller management companies with more flexible screening practices.

These properties don't come with marble lobbies or auto-lock entrances, but they offer something more valuable to many foreign tenants: a realistic path to approval. The landlords in these areas often have experience with long-term foreign residents—not tourists, but people actually living and working in Osaka. That experience changes the conversation entirely.

What "Foreigner-Friendly" Actually Means in Practice

You'll see plenty of listings advertised as "foreigner-friendly" or "no guarantor required." At Maido Estate, we need to be direct about what this language actually signifies and what it obscures.

When a property is listed as accepting foreigners without a guarantor, it typically means one of three things:

First, the building itself uses a guarantor company system where the company—not an individual—guarantees your rent payment. You pay the guarantor company an initial fee (typically 50-100% of one month's rent) and sometimes annual renewal fees. The property management explicitly approves this arrangement in advance. This is the cleanest scenario, but it's still selective. The guarantor company conducts its own screening, and properties in prime Namba locations often only approve specific, established guarantor companies that have strict acceptance criteria.

Second, the landlord accepts a larger deposit in lieu of a traditional guarantor. Instead of the standard two months' rent as deposit, you might pay four or five months upfront. This compensates the landlord for the perceived higher risk of a foreign tenant without local connections. From a cash flow perspective, this creates a significant barrier—you might need ¥400,000-¥500,000 just for initial costs before you even move in.

Third—and this is where the term "foreigner-friendly" becomes misleading—the property is designed for short-term or transient occupancy. These aren't scams, but they're not traditional Japanese rental apartments either. They're often furnished, have flexible contract terms, and charge monthly rates that work out to ¥100,000-¥150,000+ for what would normally rent for ¥60,000-¥70,000 on a standard two-year lease. You're paying a substantial premium for the convenience of reduced documentation and no guarantor requirement.

The challenge for foreigners searching independently is distinguishing between these models. The listings don't clearly indicate which category a property falls into, and you only discover the details after you've contacted the agency, gathered your documents, and started the application process.

The Documentation Challenge Nobody Explains Properly

Let's address the practical reality of applying for an apartment in Osaka as a foreigner. The standard application process in Japan assumes a specific set of documents that many foreign applicants can't fully provide—and the workarounds aren't always straightforward.

Employment Verification

Japanese landlords want to see an employment contract and recent pay stubs. But if you're working for a foreign company remotely, or you're self-employed, or your income comes from international sources, these documents don't exist in the expected format. You might have proof of income, but it's in English, issued by a company with no Japanese address, and doesn't follow Japanese tax reporting standards.

Some landlords will accept a letter from your employer on company letterhead, notarized if possible, explaining your position and salary. Others won't. The acceptance depends on the individual landlord's experience and comfort level—there's no standardized policy. This is where having a broker who knows which landlords have successfully leased to foreigners in similar situations becomes invaluable. We're not guessing about whether your documentation will work; we know from previous transactions with that specific landlord or management company.

Residence Status and Visa Duration

Your visa type and remaining validity directly affect your application, particularly for properties requiring a standard two-year lease. If you're on a one-year visa, many landlords worry about what happens when it expires. Will you renew? Will you leave Japan? Who handles the lease termination process?

Some management companies have explicit policies: they'll only lease to foreigners with at least 18 months remaining on their visa at the time of application. This isn't discrimination in the legal sense—it's risk management. They've had experiences where tenants left Japan mid-lease, defaulted on rent, and proved impossible to pursue for payment recovery.

The practical implication: if you arrive in Japan on a fresh one-year visa and immediately start apartment hunting, you have a limited window before you fall below that 18-month threshold. Waiting to renew your visa before applying might seem logical, but visa renewal requires a registered address in Japan—creating a circular dependency that catches many newcomers off guard.

Bank Account and Rent Payment Setup

Most Japanese leases require automatic bank transfer (furikomi) for monthly rent payment. You need a Japanese bank account for this. But opening a bank account requires a registered address. And getting an address requires... an apartment.

There are workarounds—some banks will open accounts using your hotel or temporary housing address, or you can use your company's office address if your employer will allow it. But these solutions aren't universally available, and many foreigners don't discover this requirement until after they've found an apartment they want, only to learn they can't complete the lease agreement without the banking arrangement in place. We cover this catch-22 situation in detail in our guide on essential steps to rent an apartment in Japan.

Certain landlords will accept international wire transfers or credit card payments, but this typically limits you to the short-term or foreigner-specialized properties we discussed earlier—the ones with higher monthly rates and less favorable terms for long-term residence.

The Neighborhood Reality: What Living in Central Namba Actually Means

The apartment listings show you square meters and floor plans. They don't convey what daily life actually feels like in dense urban Namba. Understanding these realities helps you decide whether the area truly matches your lifestyle needs—or whether the image of living in Osaka's most iconic district is more appealing than the practical experience.

Noise and Activity Levels

Namba doesn't sleep. The restaurants, bars, karaoke shops, and pachinko parlors operate late into the night and often 24 hours. If your apartment is above or adjacent to a commercial space, you'll hear it. Soundproofing varies dramatically between buildings—newer constructions use better materials, but many properties in the area were built decades ago when acoustic insulation wasn't prioritized.

For foreigners accustomed to strict quiet hours and noise ordinances in their home countries, this can be jarring. In Japan, the expectation is that urban residents tolerate a higher ambient noise level as a natural part of city living. Complaints about typical street noise or commercial activity don't generally lead to enforcement action. You're expected to adapt—use earplugs, run a white noise machine, or accept it as part of living in a entertainment district.

Space and Layout Compromises

The apartments available in central Namba tend to be compact, even by Japanese urban standards. A typical 1K (one room plus kitchen) in this area might be 18-22 square meters. That's roughly 200-240 square feet for your entire living space—bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and storage combined.

Many foreigners underestimate how this affects daily life. You can't really cook elaborate meals in a 1K kitchen. Storage is minimal—if you accumulate belongings, they'll dominate your living space. Having guests over means they're essentially in your bedroom, because there's no separate living area. These aren't defects; they're the standard reality of affordable urban housing in Japan's major cities.

The alternative—paying for a 1DK or 1LDK to get a separate living space—pushes the rent into ¥100,000-¥130,000+ range in central Namba. That's still possible, but it requires either higher income or acceptance of a different neighborhood where the same space costs less.

Access to Essential Services

One underappreciated benefit of Namba: everything you need is walkable. Banks, post offices, city ward offices, immigration services, international supermarkets, English-speaking medical clinics, mobile phone shops with multilingual staff—they're all concentrated in and around this area. When you need to handle something complicated, especially during your first months in Japan, this accessibility matters enormously.

The convenience extends beyond just proximity. Businesses in Namba expect to serve foreigners. Staff might not be fluent in English, but they're accustomed to communication challenges and often have systems in place—translation apps, visual guides, English-language forms. This reduces the friction and anxiety that often accompanies necessary tasks in a foreign country.

The Initial Costs Reality: Breaking Down What You Actually Pay

One of the most significant surprises for foreigners searching for apartments in Namba is the total upfront cost. In many countries, you might pay first month's rent plus a security deposit. In Japan, particularly in desirable areas like Namba, the initial payment structure is substantially more complex—and expensive.

Standard Cost Structure

For a typical lease on a ¥70,000/month apartment in Namba, expect initial costs around:

• Rent (first month): ¥70,000
• Deposit (shikikin): ¥140,000 (typically 2 months, may be higher for foreigners)
• Key money (reikin): ¥70,000 (1 month, non-refundable gift to landlord)
• Agency fee: ¥70,000 (1 month rent + tax)
• Guarantor company fee: ¥35,000-¥70,000 (50-100% of monthly rent)
• Fire insurance: ¥15,000-¥20,000 (two-year policy)
• Key exchange/cleaning fee: ¥15,000-¥30,000

Total: Approximately ¥415,000-¥470,000 (roughly $2,800-$3,200 USD)

This is for a relatively modest ¥70,000/month apartment. For properties closer to stations or in newer buildings where rent is ¥90,000-¥100,000/month, scale these costs proportionally. You could easily need ¥600,000 ($4,000 USD) in liquid funds just to secure the lease.

The Purpose Behind Each Fee

These costs aren't arbitrary—each serves a specific function in the Japanese rental system:

The deposit (shikikin) is held by the landlord throughout your tenancy and is meant to cover any damages beyond normal wear and tear when you move out. In theory, if you leave the apartment in good condition, you should receive most of this back. In practice, deductions for cleaning, minor repairs, and "restoration to original condition" often consume a significant portion. Expect to receive back about 50-70% of your deposit in a best-case scenario.

Key money (reikin) is perhaps the most difficult concept for foreigners to accept. You're paying the landlord one or two months' rent that you'll never get back—essentially a fee for the privilege of being selected as a tenant. The custom originated in post-war housing shortages when apartments were scarce and landlords could demand this payment. It persists today, particularly in competitive areas like Namba, because the market supports it. Some landlords have eliminated reikin to attract tenants, but properties in desirable locations rarely need this incentive.

The guarantor company fee covers the service of having a company guarantee your rent payments to the landlord. If you default on rent, the guarantor company pays the landlord and then pursues you for the debt. They're assuming financial risk, hence the fee. Some properties charge this annually, adding another ¥20,000-¥40,000 to your costs each year you remain in the apartment.

Hidden or Variable Costs

Beyond these standard fees, watch for additional charges that some properties and agencies include:

• Document translation fees: If your documents are in English and need official Japanese translation
• Key card deposits: Some modern buildings charge ¥10,000-¥20,000 deposits for electronic key cards
• Parking: If you need a parking space, add ¥15,000-¥30,000/month in central Namba
• Internet setup: Initial installation fees of ¥15,000-¥30,000 aren't uncommon
• Bicycle parking: Some buildings charge ¥1,000-¥2,000/month for bike storage

None of these appear in the listed monthly rent, but they affect your actual monthly housing cost and total move-in expenses.

Why the Location Search Process Frustrates Foreigners

Most foreigners start their Namba apartment search the same way: they open a major English-language rental site, filter by location and price, and start contacting agencies about listings. This approach seems logical, but it misunderstands how the Japanese real estate system actually works—particularly for properties in competitive areas.

The Listing Problem

The apartments you see on English-language platforms represent a small subset of what's actually available. Many listings are "ad properties"—real apartments, but ones the agency knows will likely be taken by the time you inquire. They use these attractive listings to generate contact inquiries, then guide you toward other properties once you engage with them.

This isn't necessarily deceptive; it's how the volume-based agency model works. But it creates frustration when you inquire about five different apartments you're genuinely interested in, only to learn all five are "unfortunately already rented" and would you like to see these other options instead?

The properties that truly work for foreigners often don't get extensively marketed online. Landlords who have successfully leased to foreign tenants before—and had positive experiences—tend to work directly with agencies they trust. When a vacancy comes up, they contact that agency, the agency places the tenant from their existing client pool, and the property never hits the public listings.

The Information Asymmetry

When you view listings online, you're seeing the same information every other potential tenant sees: rent, size, age, distance to station. What you're not seeing:

• Whether this landlord has actually approved foreign tenants before
• What the typical application rejection reasons are for this building
• How flexible the management company is on documentation
• What the real move-in timeline looks like
• Whether current tenants have reported issues with the property

A broker who regularly works in the Namba market knows these details. They know that Building A's management company is strict about employment contracts but flexible on visa duration, while Building B accepts various income documentation but requires a Japanese phone number before application. They know which properties have pending noise complaints, which landlords respond quickly to maintenance requests, and which buildings have foreigner-friendly residents' associations.

This knowledge is accumulated through repeated transactions and ongoing relationships. It's not available in any listing database.

Broker Value in the Namba Market: What You're Actually Paying For

Let's be direct about the broker role, because many foreigners approach this with understandable skepticism. You're paying a fee (typically one month's rent) to the agency. What are you actually receiving in exchange?

Pre-Screening and Filtering

A competent broker doesn't show you every available property in your price range. They show you properties where your specific profile—your income level, employment situation, visa status, timeline, and personal circumstances—has a reasonable chance of approval.

This filtering saves you enormous amounts of time and emotional frustration. Instead of spending weeks applying to apartments that will ultimately reject you due to issues you didn't even know would be problems, you're only seeing properties where the broker has already confirmed with the landlord or management company that a foreign tenant with your profile is acceptable in principle.

This pre-screening is invisible to you as the client, but it's arguably the most valuable service a broker provides. You never see the 30 properties they discarded on your behalf because they knew the applications would fail.

Application Strategy and Documentation Preparation

The broker isn't just submitting your paperwork—they're framing your application in the way most likely to address the landlord's specific concerns. If the landlord has had a bad experience with a previous foreign tenant who left mid-lease, the broker emphasizes your long-term employment contract and established residency. If the concern is communication ability, they highlight that you're studying Japanese or that you have a bilingual colleague who can assist with building matters.

They know which documents matter most for each landlord. They know how to present foreign employment contracts in a way that's comprehensible to Japanese property managers. They know when to proactively offer additional deposits or shortened lease terms to overcome hesitation.

You could potentially learn all this through trial and error over many months and multiple applications. The broker is compressing that learning curve and applying pattern-matched knowledge from hundreds of previous transactions.

Negotiation and Problem Resolution

Contrary to popular assumption, many elements of a Japanese rental lease are negotiable—but only if you know what's negotiable and how to frame the request.

Brokers regularly negotiate on:

• Deposit reductions (especially if you're offering strong employment guarantees)
• Elimination or reduction of key money in slower rental markets
• Lease start dates and rent-free days
• Inclusion of furniture or appliances
• Maintenance issues discovered during viewing
• Handling of existing damage or needed repairs

When issues arise during your tenancy—a maintenance emergency, a noise dispute, confusion about a billing charge, difficulty communicating with management—your broker serves as your intermediary. They can explain the situation to the property management in proper Japanese, advocating on your behalf while maintaining the respectful tone and framing that Japanese business culture requires.

For foreigners without strong Japanese language skills, this advocacy role isn't just convenient—it's often the difference between resolving an issue in days versus weeks of mounting frustration.

The Realistic Timeline: How Long This Process Actually Takes

Many foreigners arrive in Osaka expecting to find and move into an apartment within a week or two. For central Namba properties, this timeline is unrealistic—and trying to force it often leads to suboptimal decisions.

Phase One: Search and Viewing (1-2 Weeks)

Even with a broker, expect to view 5-10 properties before finding one that matches your needs and where the landlord is genuinely willing to accept your application. Some foreigners get lucky and find the right place in their first day of viewings, but this is exceptional.

The viewing process in Japan is structured—you don't just drop by properties. Each viewing is scheduled, often on different days, and you're typically shown 3-4 properties in a half-day session. Between sessions, you're reconsidering your priorities, adjusting your budget, or expanding your geographic search area.

Phase Two: Application and Screening (1-2 Weeks)

Once you've selected a property and decided to apply, the application itself takes several days to compile (gathering documents, getting translations, obtaining necessary statements). The landlord's screening process then takes anywhere from 2-3 days to two weeks, depending on how responsive the landlord and management company are.

If you're using a guarantor company, add their screening timeline on top of the landlord's. The guarantor company needs to approve you before the landlord will even review your application in many cases.

During this phase, you're in limbo. You can't view other properties and pursue backup options without risking the loss of your current application (once you apply, the property is typically held off the market). But you also have no guarantee of approval.

Phase Three: Contract and Move-In (1-2 Weeks)

After approval, the lease contract must be prepared, reviewed, signed by all parties, and registered. Initial costs must be paid (usually by bank transfer, which takes 1-2 business days to clear). Keys must be prepared. Move-in inspection must be scheduled.

In the best case, this phase takes about a week. If there are any complications—questions about contract clauses, delays in payment processing, scheduling conflicts for the move-in inspection—it stretches longer.

Realistic Total Timeline: 3-6 Weeks

If everything proceeds smoothly, with no application rejections and minimal back-and-forth on documentation, you might complete the entire process in three weeks. More typically, especially for foreigners encountering the system for the first time, expect 4-6 weeks from starting your search to receiving your keys.

This timeline has practical implications. If you're arriving in Osaka for a new job, you need temporary housing for at least a month, possibly longer. If you're timing your arrival around a specific date, you need to build in substantial buffer. The inability to compress this timeline below a certain threshold catches many foreigners by surprise.

Alternative Neighborhoods Worth Considering

We regularly guide clients away from central Namba, not because the area is unsuitable, but because nearby neighborhoods offer better value or easier application processes for their specific situation. Understanding these alternatives helps you make a more informed decision about whether Namba's premium is worth paying.

Tennoji and Shin-Imamiya

Just 10-15 minutes south of Namba by train, Tennoji offers similar urban convenience at notably lower costs. A studio that rents for ¥70,000 in Namba might cost ¥55,000-¥60,000 in Tennoji. The area has substantial foreign population (students, long-term workers, international families), which means landlords here have more experience with foreign tenants.

The tradeoff: Tennoji lacks Namba's tourist-district polish. You're in a more authentically local Japanese neighborhood, which means fewer English signs, less English-speaking retail staff, and a different nightlife atmosphere. For foreigners genuinely planning to live in Osaka long-term rather than existing in the tourist-foreigner bubble, this is often a positive change.

Shinsaibashi and Hommachi

North of Namba, Shinsaibashi blends upscale shopping with residential areas. It's slightly quieter than Namba while maintaining excellent connectivity. Properties here tend to be newer, with better soundproofing and modern amenities. The demographic skews slightly older and more professional.

Rent is comparable to Namba or slightly higher, but the quality per yen is often better. Foreign approval rates are similar—you face the same screening challenges, but the building quality and neighborhood atmosphere might better match what many foreigners expect from "modern urban living."

Nippombashi and Nipponbashi-Nishi

The area between Namba and Nipponbashi Station (also called Den Den Town) offers a middle ground—you're still extremely close to central Namba's amenities but just outside the peak tourist density zone. Rent drops ¥5,000-¥10,000/month compared to right next to Namba Station.

This area has become increasingly popular with foreign residents who work in IT or creative industries, creating a small but established expat community. Landlords here are accustomed to foreign tenants, but it's still regular Japanese rental housing, not foreigner-specialized short-term accommodation.

For a comprehensive look at where foreigners typically settle in Osaka and why, check out our guide on where foreigners live in Osaka. And if you're comparing multiple areas, our detailed breakdown of the top 10 best Osaka neighborhoods can help you understand the tradeoffs across the city.

Making an Informed Decision About Namba

The question isn't whether Namba is "good" or "bad" for foreigners—it's whether the specific benefits of living in central Namba align with your priorities and whether you're prepared for the application realities.

Namba makes sense when:

• Your work or social life genuinely centers on this area, making the convenience worth the premium
• You have stable, documentable income and a visa situation that won't create screening complications
• You're comfortable with dense urban living and don't need quiet residential atmosphere
• You have sufficient funds to handle the substantial initial costs without financial stress
• You understand that you're paying partly for location prestige, not just practical convenience

Consider alternatives when:

• You're on a tight budget and every ¥10,000/month matters to your financial stability
• Your employment or visa situation is complex and likely to trigger extra scrutiny
• You value peace, quiet, and space over being in the center of the action
• You're planning to spend most of your time at work or exploring other parts of Osaka anyway
• You want to experience more authentic local Japanese neighborhood life

Working with Maido Estate: Our Approach to the Namba Market

At Maido Estate, we don't operate on the volume model that many Osaka agencies use. We're not trying to place 50 foreign tenants per month across all of Osaka. We work with a smaller number of clients, spending genuine time understanding their situation, explaining the realities they'll face, and identifying properties where approval is genuinely likely.

When you come to us interested in Namba, we start by understanding not just your practical requirements (budget, size, move-in date) but your actual lifestyle needs and your realistic position in the rental market. We'll tell you directly if your situation makes certain properties unlikely—not to discourage you, but to focus your energy and timeline on options that actually work.

We've built relationships with landlords and management companies across the Namba area over years of consistent, professional transactions. When we submit an application, those landlords know we've already pre-screened the tenant and structured the application to address their likely concerns. This doesn't guarantee approval—nothing does—but it substantially improves your odds compared to cold applications through unfamiliar agencies.

We explain the real costs, timelines, and processes upfront. We prepare you for the documentation you'll need. We help you understand which of your requirements are flexible and which are non-negotiable, so you can make informed tradeoffs if needed.

Most importantly, we remain your advocate throughout your tenancy, not just through the lease signing. When you have questions about a utility bill, need to report a maintenance issue, want to understand your lease renewal terms, or face any other housing-related issue, we're your point of contact. For foreign residents navigating a system in a foreign language, this ongoing relationship often proves more valuable than the initial apartment search itself.

Starting Your Search: Practical Next Steps

If you're seriously considering finding an apartment in Namba, the most productive next step is a consultation where we can understand your specific situation and give you honest feedback about what's realistic for your profile.

We can discuss:

• What your budget actually gets you in current market conditions
• How your employment and visa status affect your application options
• Whether your timeline aligns with the realistic process duration
• Which specific neighborhoods and property types make sense for your situation
• What documentation you should start gathering now

This isn't a high-pressure sales conversation. Many clients leave our initial meeting with a clearer picture of the Osaka rental market and an adjusted strategy—whether that's expanding their neighborhood search, adjusting their timeline, or gathering additional documentation before actively apartment hunting.

Contact Maido Estate to start a conversation about your Namba apartment search. We'll give you a realistic assessment of what's possible for your specific situation and help you understand the path from where you are now to holding the keys to your new home in Osaka.

Finding the right apartment in Namba requires understanding the system, navigating its complexities, and working with professionals who know how to position your application for success. The iconic streets of Dotonbori and the energy of Osaka's most famous district can absolutely be part of your daily life—but getting there requires a more nuanced approach than simply browsing listings and filling out applications.

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