host bar, anyone?

Hmmm...I could either discuss the defeat of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party in yesterday's Upper House elections, or show you this really amusing promotional video for a Tokyo host bar.  Hmmm: host bar!

I had a friend back in the hostessing world, who inadvertently "fell in love" with a host.  He was some ripped Phillipino guy with dyed hair and piercing eyes who called himself "Derrick".  Her name was Michi, and she was Japanese.  In the dressing room Michi would sometimes brag about how sweetly Derrick treated her (catering to her, asking about her problems, comforting her, etc.).  Yet when Michi wasn't around, people often said things like: "how stupid could she be, doesn't she know she's just his customer?!?"  I was guilty of wondering so much myself. 

Then, some events went down that basically shut us all up.  After the bar where we worked in Ginza shut down, Michi became the mama-san at a lower-class hostess bar in a less pretentious neighborhood.  I worked for her there briefly, during which time something funny started happening: Derrick started coming to our club with her.  I don't know if she gave him a discount or not, but she started pouring the drinks for him rather than its being the other way around.  And she catered to him well, because he was her customer.  Instead of his mandatory host-suit, Derrick showed up at our club in muscle shirts and  designer jeans which were all too carefully faded and torn to look cool.  He may have even been wearing make-up.

The whole situation had me totally confused, left to wonder what the real difference was between a "customer" and a "date" anyway, in a world that was so ruled by money.  Funny things happen when people get paid by the bottle, I'm telling you.

I cut all my ties with Michi and Derrick's subculture after i quit drinking (I had to), but I do think of them sometimes.

I hope they are both ok.

Comments

[Meg Moran]

I have so many friends I "think back" on and wonder about. Sometimes I run into them in a meeting....it's strange...sometimes I think I will never see them again, and I make up little stories in my head about how their life is now. I hope your friends are well. I guess it is all part of the surrender.....HP is in charge.

[Meg Moran]

I have so many friends I "think back" on and wonder about. Sometimes I run into them in a meeting....it's strange...sometimes I think I will never see them again, and I make up little stories in my head about how their life is now. I hope your friends are well. I guess it is all part of the surrender.....HP is in charge.

[Scout]

ok that promo vid is just plain weird and boring. I kept waiting for it to DO something. lol!
It's a world i know nothing about. I guess I will need to read your book, huh.
Peace,
Scout

[Shugrr]

I found your blog via cout's Daze and wanted to thank you for shedding light on the Geisha traditions/history as well as reminding me that our common malady is a worldwide disease. I am also very close to you in Soberiety b-days. Mine is 2/21/2007. Thanks for sharing, I'll keep coming back and should I ever find myself in Tokyo will be sure to email for meeting schedules!

Your sister in sobriety...
Shugrr~

[Chris B]

Fell in love with a ripped flip??

Um...yeah!!

Lu Lu loser!!!