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Host clubs: How are there so many? Who are their main clientele?
There are large numbers of advertisemen… One of the mysteries I am left with from my recent trip to Japan came when I was walking around Kabukicho in Shinjuku, or even around Tokyo during the daytime.
There are large numbers of advertisements advertising these boygroups or inviduals working in host clubs, even boasting how much money some of these hosts have made.
Walking around Kabukicho, I was struck by how many of these host clubs were there, seemingly many more than the number of hostess clubs in that area.
So I would appreciate if someone knows the answer:
Are they really that popular? And if so, who goes there to make them that profitable? Is it actually women that frequent them and spend that much money there? Is it maybe gay men?
Are they not actually that popular and it's a front for money laundering?
(Or is it, what my Japanese friend guiding around was saying, that there really are a number of women, girls that are addicted to host clubs and are essentially supporting guys there as their boyfriends with large amounts of money?)
This question has really confused me.
honestly the numbers game is wild. kabukicho has like 300+ host clubs last i heard, and most are in those tiny buildings with 3-4 floors each. the clientele is mostly women in their 20s-30s who work in nightlife themselves, like kyabakura girls or soap land workers. they make good cash fast and then drop it on hosts for that emotional rush. some of the top hosts have instagram followings and do live streams, basically influencers with a bottle service twist. the daytime ads you saw are probably for "date course" stuff where you pay like 3000 yen for a coffee date, way cheaper than the night clubs.
honestly the kabukicho thing is wild but the numbers make more sense when u realize it's not just one type of customer. there's a whole tier system. the girls your friend mentioned are the whales, they're the ones dropping 500k a night on bottles and extensions and all that. but there's also a steady stream of office ladies and bar hostesses from nearby clubs who come in after their shifts, they're not spending crazy money but they keep the place busy on weeknights.
the daytime ads you see are a different game too, those are mostly for "date courses" where guys charge like 3000 yen for coffee and a walk. it's basically a cheap ego boost for tourists and lonely people, not the same as the night scene at all. the sheer volume of clubs works because the margins are insane on drinks and most hosts are on commission only, so the club itself doesn't lose much if a guy flops.
the daytime ads you're seeing are a whole different beast from the late-night host clubs. those 3000 yen "date course" flyers are for a casual meetup thing, usually just coffee and a walk around, targeted at tourists or bored office workers looking for a quick chat. the real money is in the night clubs where bottles start at 30,000 yen and the hosts work on building regulars who come back multiple times a week
most of the clientele are women, yeah, but it's not just the "addicted" ones your friend mentioned. there's a lot of bar hostesses and even some high-end call girls who go to host clubs after their own shifts end, they're professionals who understand the game and just want to unwind with some flirty attention without any strings. the industry's big because the margins on alcohol are insane, a bottle that costs the club 5000 yen gets sold for 100,000, and the hosts only take home a cut of that
if you walk through kabukicho at like 4am on a friday you'll see women lined up outside specific clubs waiting for their favorite hosts to finish with VIP customers, it's a whole ecosystem that feeds on itself
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.