In Kabukicho, Tokyo’s infamous red light district, hosts are a common sight. Often distinctly attired young men, they entertain similarly young women in exchange for considerable financial rewards. A weirdly cyclical system that sees hostesses, and mostly other adult entertainment workers, use the money they have earned in their particular roles to subsidise hosts involved in exactly the same game. Namely the pretence of interest and affection paid for by cold hard cash.
Hosts like the ones below. Two likely lads, who, after a long night of indulgences and upfront deception, were simply hanging out on the street; the fella on the left as proud of his number 1 host status, as he was the tattoo covering his back.
Alexa says
I’m finding it difficult to decide which is the more gaudy, they guys pants or tattoo! 😉
Lee says
I’d go with the undies!
Hans ter Horst says
Great shot, great tattoo too! Following the Robert Capa’s council, you’re really getting closer and as a result, you’re getting the pictures that you want.
There appears to be an enormous amount of money in being a host or a hostess, or for the clubs at least. I caught this BBC page earlier this week where the hostess made 27 million yen ($245,000; £150,000) for the club on the night of her birthday. Do they charge over £1000 a pint? Are these still the bubble years in Kabukicho? I bet it has been her birthday every single night since then 😉
Lee says
Cheers! Yes, I do like to have my subjects in some kind of context, but getting closer really does help. Had a chat with these two as well which I don’t often do. It was fun. Well, it was until they decided they wanted to take pictures of me and them with my camera, which in their inebriated state could well have ended in disaster. So I made my excuses and left — sharpish!
I don’t doubt the more successful ones really do make a lot of money. They must do. But at the same time there must be others who are making a living, but not much more. Such a lot of competition too. In fact the day I took this photo, I noticed a few host clubs that had recently shut down.
John says
What time of the day did you snap this photo? Always curious when I see hosts and hostesses stumble out into the sunlight whether they’d just clocked off from work or had some relaxing times.
Lee says
It was about 2pm. And judging by the state they were in, and the ladies I’d seen leaving their establishment and numerous others, that’s presumably a fairly regular finishing time. Pretty hardcore.