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

“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?”