The international hostess industry in Japan is still shrouded with mystery. When Lucie Blackman was murdered in 2000 Tokyo’s hostess underworld, and the famed Roppongi district, was thrust into the limelight. Since then things have settled down but many still wonder what goes on behind the closed doors of a hostess club.

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Roppongi is the center of Tokyo’s International hostess scene. With intense competition, staff turnover is high and a hostess can easily lose her job if she’s not bringing in the cash. A hostess earns her nightly wage through a customer buying her drinks, requesting to sit with her, or by going on a date with a customer before arriving at the club. One hostess explains.

Hostess in Tokyo

You can go on a dohan (同半) which is a date that you go on with a customer before work and he has to take you back to the club. And you receive money for that. He has to pay for that privilege.

Customers want to talk about everyday topics when they first arrive but as the alcohol flows they usually start talking about sex. Later on the evening is when the karaoke and dancing begins. One hostess recalls spending her first night of work in a slow dance embrace with a man who only came up to her chest.

Alcoholism is also common within the industry. Some girls have admitted to throwing up so they can keep drinking or using well-positioned pot plants to get rid of their drinks during the night. As well as watching what they drink, hostesses also need to keep an eye on the customers.

Hostess in Tokyo

Sometimes you do have customers who try to take advantage of situations. They try to put you in harmful situations or situations where they can be a little bit inappropriate. Those customers tend to be customers who go to clubs a lot and they can tell when there’s a new girl who might not have her guard up or who might not be aware of the dangers. They really know how to target those girls.

Joji Obara, Lucie Blackman’s murderer, was one man who knew how to target women. Earlier in 2007 Lucie Blackman’s case finally drew to a close – seven years after it all began. Obara was acquitted of Lucie’s murder but finally sentenced to life for a series of other related crimes.

Lucie’s shocking story reminds us that this great city, and working as a hostess here, isn’t always as safe as it seems.

Living in a foreign country is not easy especially when you don’t speak the language. If you need English assistance while you are in Japan, refer to Surviving Japan, with a list of various English support groups to make your stay more comfortable.

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Quotes have been slightly altered for print. For the accurate quotations, please refer to the video.

Story by Karryn Cartelle
All Rights Reserved, Spinshell Inc.

Spinshell Reports are three minute episodes of useful information about visiting and living in Japan.

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Tags: , dohan, douhan, hostess, hostessing, Joji Obara, Lucie Blackman, night club, ホステス, 同半

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