Message from mhagiwara

[Anonymous]

When I first heard you introduce this topic, and after reading the article you posted, the first thing that comes to mind is the role of host & hostess bars in Japan. In some ways it seems that this practice of "renting" individuals is very comparable to the numerous host bars that also plague the country. At host bars men are hired to entice women into the business which serves food and alcohol, while at hostess bars the roles are switched. Often times, as is with those who rent men, the people who come to these establishments are middle aged and come to have their voices heard and/or be acknowledged. Japanese society still practices a sort of quiet passiveness that usually results in antisocial behavior. I feel that it's getting better but even if you go to Japan today, you can tell that expressing one's feelings and emotions overtly is not quite the norm. I've attached a few articles that also discuss host/hostess bars in Japan.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/05/national/host-clubs-a-hotbed-of-human-trafficking/#.V5dxkmZa5Ko
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/strange-world-of-male-hosts-in-japan
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9524899/The-grim-truth-about-life-as-a-Japanese-hostess.html