Get Rich by Moving to Japan and Becoming a Male Geisha

Ok, this was just too strange for me to pass up. Apparently male geishas are becoming popular in Japan and the young men who are "geishas" are making a fortune. The summary:

The woman, a successful executive, has joined a growing number of professional women in Japan in forking out from $1,000 to $50,000 a night for male companionship.

They meet their "hosts" in hundreds of clubs that have sprung up around Tokyo - the industry says only compliments are exchanged. The women pay for a man to lavish them with undivided attention.

"There's nothing wrong with a woman paying to be entertained by a man," one female client says. "It's just another step in equality."

It's a dizzying reversal of traditional gender roles in a country long known for geishas pampering male clients with conversation, singing and dancing. Now a new breed of entertainer has cropped up -- think of them as male geishas.

"I give women things that men normally don't do, like complimenting their appearance," says one host, 24-year-old Yunosuke, who only goes by his single host name. "I make women happy."

And they make him happy: Yunosuke says he earned more than $200,000 last year, enough to let him visit a salon once a day to have his hair dyed and blow-dried.

Part of me just says "yuk" at the thought of this (and any associated "services" the men are asked to provide), then again, if the women have the money and want companionship without commitment, who's to knock it? And for the young men, $200k is a pretty decent amount of money for entertaining women. Sheesh -- most American guys would do it for free drinks and pretzels.

What's your take on this? Borderline on ethics or a legitimate transaction for everyone?

Comments

[Traciatim]

I don't see a problem with it at all. Even if the 'extras' are throw in. The only problem people have with prostitution is that it exploits women. That's why it's illegal. Yet in areas where it is legal they don't seem to be exploited and enjoy their jobs. If it was equally staffed by both sexes I think the stigma of the trade will diminish to a point where it is legal and regulated.

If it really is just conversation and compliments, and some pampering . . . what's the difference between that and I spa beside a few nice comments. That's fair game all around too.

[escapee]

except that a lot of Japanese women don't think westerners are good looking- no joke!

[snow_drops]

Uhm, the fact you stated was correct, but I suspect the impression you get was slightly off based.

Customers come to a host club and spend their money on drinks and food. The more they pay, the longer they are accompanied by the host. The hosts do not receive money from the customers themselves, but rather, it's a percentage of whatever the customer is paying the store. The hosts are under no obligation to provide the extra 'services' you mentioned. Indeed, some will, but it usually is under mutual agreement.

That's my understanding from studying the Japanese culture. As I understand it, some hosts work to pay for their tuition, etc. But of course, I could be wrong. ^_^

[Matt]

Wasn't there an episode of CSI in the last year or so implying that host clubs already exist in the U.S., at least in Vegas?

[sid]

sign me up !

[Darin H]

I don't think my wife is going to agree to let me go for it :)

[Jared]

In the wake of Eliot Spitzer, there was a lot of talk about prostitution. In Europe, there are places where its legal and regulated, which is safer for both parties involved. It's gonna happen, so why not just tax it and make it safe?

[FS]

My wife said she'd consider letting me go for a year...as long as I'd not be too wore out to compliment her upon my return home!

Can you say debt free baby?!

(jk)

[Craig]

I live in Tokyo and this is nothing new really. It is just a spin-off from the female hostess clubs which are only about chatting and drinking -- although there are lots of "other" types of clubs too... Often from what I understand many female hostesses go to visit male hosts after they finish work in order to blow off some stress.. You see this as a big part of Japanese culture and not strange at all. It is seen as a great place to go and have some drinks with colleagues or by yourself. Then you are guaranteed to have some nice company to enjoy it with..

And yes --- no foreigners would be hired to work in these clubs. There are some new foreign-style "butler" cafes where some foreign guys are working to serve coffee (etc.) dressed up in suits and tuxedos. The intended purpose is to provide an English-language type of escape from reality, but the money is nowhere near the same. Just hourly pay for young English teacher types on nearly minimum wage.

[mark]

There was a documentary a few years ago called "The Great Happiness Space" on the topic of host clubs in Japan. It paints a pretty bleak picture of the lives that the people (both the workers and the customers) lead. Many of the women who go there end up ruining their marriages and relationships, as they drain their life savings to pay the exorbitant fees at host clubs. Some even turn to a life of prostitution in order to make enough money to see their host.

It's not easy living the life of a host, either. Since they're paid by how many drinks they can get customers to buy them, they'll often drink until they're sick, and then force themselves to continue drinking through the night. Now imagine doing this every night, whether or not you want to drink.

Anyway, I'd recommend renting the movie, or getting it via Netflix, if you're into documentaries.

http://www.thegreathappinessspace.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493420/

BTW, as an aside: first time commenter, long time reader. Love the blog, keep it up.

[Matt]

I see no problem with this as long as the men are not dehumanized. Obviously, this would include sexual favors (voluntary or not), but might also include any situation where they are treated with disrespect. As long as the person using the service can appreciate the other person as a human being and not reduce them to objects or mere entertainment, it seems ethically sound.