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{ Monday, June 30, 2003 }

Japanese Host Clubs

At the gym the other day I was reading Marie Claire (Marie Claire is a fashion magazine, for all you boys out there) and there was an article about Host Clubs in Japan. These are the equivalent of Hostess bars, which have their roots in geisha culture, and are places where a woman can go and be doted on by many handsome young men.

A woman is lured in with a relatively cheap first-time fee of $50 to $100. On that visit, she must choose her "main" host. Because whomever she picks will receive an up-front commission and half the take from all of her bills whenever she comes to the club, the whole staff showers the newcomer with charm.

Women apparently shower these guys with expensive gifts, treat them like boyfriends and take them shopping. The hosts will have sex with them if they insist, but only if it is a client they can't afford to lose, because then, according to one host, "things get complicated."

For the customers, Japan's trend-conscious young women, a night at a host bar is part thrill, part danger. The thrill, of course, is somewhat sexual: the guys are attentive, hunky and dangle the possibility they might be available after the clubs close. The danger is financial: after entrance fees, host commissions and nosebleed-priced drinks, a customer can rack up a $10,000 bill in a single night.

One host explained that these clubs flourish in Japan because of the reserved nature of Japanese emotional relationships. So much is unspoken -- even in bona fide love affairs -- that it is easy to imagine a host (or hostess) returns your love, when this has only been suggested by glances and oblique remarks.

I found another article I found about host clubs in an English language Japanese paper, which insists that host clubs aren't such an easy place to work after all. Hosts complain about dealing with bored-looking women, and being made to drink champagne out of women's shoes.

And another one. Appears to be a hot subject these days.

LINK | 12:26 AM | TB

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