Eastern man's love affair with Western woman goes south

By Ryann Connell
February 9, 2005

Young Western women who could once look forward to coming to Japan and picking up lucrative jobs as nightclub hostesses are losing out to Eastern European competitors who're being viewed as nicer, cheaper and more eager, according to Cyzo.

Where women from English-speaking countries once dominated the top end of the market and other women from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines covered the lower end of the scale, cities such as Osaka and Nagoya have reportedly seen a recent spate of new nightclubs opening with hostesses from countries such as Romania, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

"About three years ago, there was only a handful of East European hostess clubs in all of Osaka," a reporter on the Kansai region's adult entertainment business tells Cyzo. "But since the start of last year, they've been popping up all over the place. I'd say there's probably close on 20 gaijin pubs here now."

Most East European pubs charge about 6,000 yen per hour, slightly less than the going rate for the average cabaret club, which is basically a hostess joint staffed by Japanese. However, the foreign competitors offer the chance for customers to chat with (but definitely not touch) young, often natural, blondes -- a postwar ideal in Japan that has seen most of the clubs boast of a clientele whose ages range from their 20s to their 60s.

The entertainment industry writer gives the monthly a good indication of what the average Japanese man is looking for when he goes to a nightclub.

"There're many Japanese men who have an inferiority complex when it comes to dealing with Caucasian women, but Eastern European women don't seem to fit that image and you'd be surprised how many of them are self-sacrificing and devoted. With an American, you might be able to go and practice your English," the writer says. "But (Eastern European) girls are different -- they're humble. They learn about Japanese culture, they study the language and they give everything they've got to try and converse in Japanese. If you really want to develop a sense of global awareness, the gaijin pub is a wonderful place to start."

West Japan's biggest East European hostess nightspot is probably the Continental Club, which opened its doors in September last year.

As well as the typically tacky interior of mirrors, chandeliers and plush seats set in semi-circles where customers and hostess can mingle, it's also got pool tables and darts boards.

Continental Club's VIP room is decorated with mementoes left by Hollywood stars who have visited the club, which also boasts of being a favorite among Japan's glitterati and professional sports stars.

What many Japanese men consider to be the greatest attraction of hostess clubs is the opportunity to take the girls out on a date after they've finished work. East European pubs are no exception to this rule, but a Continental Club source warns that any with such intentions had better be well prepared.

"Japanese have a tendency to put on airs a bit, so when they go out dining they tend to go to pricey places or famous sushi or yakiniku restaurants or even posh joints in big hotels," the source tells Cyzo. "Our girls are used to this treatment and think all Japanese go out to these upmarket places all the time. People would want to keep that in mind if they're looking for a date."

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