Hap Bar’s Evolution from Enthusiastic Hangout to Disappointing Pickup Joint

Nonfiction Writer Mizuho Takagi Explores the Roots of Various Adult Entertainment Genres and Associated Items in ‘Birth of Reportage on Adult Entertainment.’ This Second Part Focuses on ‘Happening Bars,’ Which Emerged Directly from ‘Happenings.’ However, as they become more mainstream, their original intentions diverge from those of their founders.

Click here for Part 1 [The Birth of Sex Industry, Happening Bar] “Let’s do it anyway,” it started from a “happening.

The release of DVDs, starting with ‘Key’ in Roppongi, triggered a wave of major capital entering the industry, seeing an opportunity in happening bars. Then, in 2004, police authorities launched a series of raids. While the discreetly operating shop in Kawaguchi escaped unscathed, many major ventures came to an end with the arrests of their managers. This was largely due to the fact that many newcomers, without restraint, had boldly entered the business.

Chocoball Mukai, a top actor in the AV industry, was involved in managing ‘Key.’ When Mukai was arrested on charges of public indecency, his celebrity status led to widespread coverage in newspapers, bringing the term happening bar into the limelight. Ironically, this further increased its recognition and attracted more individuals to exploit it for profit.

Regarding this crackdown, Kawaguchi remarked, “It’s only natural. Happening bars were originally meant to be shadowy establishments, where only those with niche interests, such as enthusiasts, could gather discreetly, with rent and meal expenses covered, simply for enjoyment. But now, to think they’ve been brought into the spotlight.”

“If Pure Tea is considered a non-profit happening bar primarily for hobby purposes, then the recent trend of ‘yaribars’ could be seen as for-profit happening bars. These establishments emerged around 2010, transitioning from places where enthusiasts gathered to, as a result of profit-driven motives, venues where individuals engage in sexual activities.

The happening bar industry underwent another transformation around 2020, shifting towards encounter bars due to the widespread adoption of social media. As mentioned earlier, frequent crackdowns forced these establishments to specialize in being places to meet, where patrons select their partners for sexual encounters on the same day.

The clientele is diverse. When asked about the visitors to encounter bars, Kawaguchi mentions that everyone from university students to working adults utilizes them, much like nightclubs known as pickup joints, and he expresses surprise at how they are all making good profits.

Of course, the story doesn’t end there. To delve deeper into the background, we visited a knowledgeable, active happening bar owner who operates on a non-profit basis.

“The essence of a happening bar lies in the master who orchestrates an environment where men and women can enjoy themselves. Whether couples or individuals, patrons come to play because of the strong rapport with the master.

However, nowadays, except for a few exceptions, many of these masters are no longer enthusiasts. Moreover, if you look around, you’ll find the place filled with individuals seeking sexual encounters. It’s only the profit-driven owners who think it’s okay because it’s profitable. This drives away true enthusiasts and becomes a nuisance for us, the owners who want to preserve the genre as true enthusiasts.”

Kawaguchi adds.

“Do you understand why there’s a double entrance fee for solo males (20,000 yen) compared to couples (10,000 yen)? The male in a couple invests a lot of time and money to convince their partner, who might be hesitant, to come to the bar, gradually persuading them and even buying new clothes and underwear. And if they come to the bar and find it filled with solo males who might try to take advantage of their partner, they’ll probably decide not to come again, right?”

The perverts’ ideal of a happening bar was being transformed, for better or worse, by money-grabbing operators.

“According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is known as a long-established establishment boasting 15 years of history. It attracts about 80 customers per day and reportedly generates annual sales of approximately 3 billion yen.”

“The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department estimates that ‘9259’ has generated approximately 137 million yen in sales since December 2020, primarily through social media and other online platforms.”

Behind the scenes, the perverts shed tears. The place became a profit-making encounter bar, and the maniacs went underground and stopped showing their faces. Kawaguchi, of course, says, “It would have been easy to make more money by expanding the scale or turning it into a dating bar.” However, Kawaguchi’s answer at the time was as follows.

“‘Being conspicuous is like broadcasting to the world that we’re engaging in lewd acts and making dirty money. Even if we invest a fortune to create luxurious establishments, if we get caught, we’ll lose everything. So, it’s better to maintain the status quo.'”

According to the active happening bar owner mentioned earlier, “There are 18 existing happening bars in Tokyo, but if we’re talking about pure happening bars, they can be counted on one hand.”

Taking into account this current situation, with the preface “It’s unfortunate for the business owners who are striving and exerting all their efforts in pursuit of an ideal,” Kawaguchi begins his discussion.

“I fear that the happening bar I created will be devoured by solo males and females within the next three years.”

In other words, Kawaguchi is singing the praises of the end of true happening bars in the near future.

Kawaguchi retired from the front lines of the industry three years ago yesterday when he realized this. While some owners are working hard to revive the happening bars in their original form, Kawaguchi is now running a bar in Kabukicho where there are no happenings.