Hidden Report Reveals Surge in Popularity of Men’s Show Clubs Amid Crackdown on Host Club-Like Venues

Men’s Club, Boys’ Bar, Macho Bar.
While they are almost identical in function to host clubs.

There has been a surge in crackdowns across the country on unlicensed establishments that provide customer service, often referred to as host club-like. Many of the men’s clubs and boys’ bars frequently heard about in Kabukicho engage in similar romantic sales tactics as host clubs.

“There are so many places that operate almost exactly like host clubs. Not only are there concept cafes, but also shisha bars and macho bars… they keep changing their methods and offerings. There’s been an increase in people coming out of curiosity, and it seems like those who lack the courage to enter a host club or minors who can’t go to host clubs are getting caught up in this scene.

Ten years ago, the area behind Kabukicho near Okubo Street was the host club district, but it has been expanding rapidly. The number of similar establishments has increased, and so has the population of hosts. Additionally, mergers among management groups have led to larger operational scales. Nowadays, it’s quite common for host clubs to open around Yasukuni Dori” (Naoya, a 34-year-old who works behind the scenes at a host club).

Amidst this, the “men’s show club” scene is quietly gaining popularity in Kabukicho. The men’s show club “A-MEN’S TOKYO” is located in an area near Yasukuni Dori in Kabukicho. The entrance leading to the basement features a photo of former KAT-TUN member Junno Taguchi.

Under the supervision of the producer of “63 Angels” (formerly of Burlesque Tokyo), patrons can enjoy shows featuring male cast members selected by Taguchi through auditions. It seems that Taguchi was also actively performing on stage when the club opened this August.

Conversation among customers

The author visited at an early hour for the nightlife scene, around 7 PM. Despite the rain, the club was bustling due to a birthday event for one of the cast members, and by 30 minutes before the show began, about 80% of the seats were filled. Inside, women in black attire were guiding female customers and taking orders. This practice of having employees of the same gender as the customers is a culture not found in host clubs.

Before and after the show, the cast members circulated among the tables, engaging in light conversations with patrons. It was common to see guests interacting with one another while chatting with their favorite performers. As the lights dimmed, the show was about to begin. Unlike male-oriented shows, the male cast members did not engage in bold exposure. During the roughly 30-minute performance, just over ten cast members took turns showcasing their acts. They performed to a mix of idol songs, K-POP, anime songs, and Vocaloid music, creating an idol live experience with host-like men.

“The customer base is quite diverse. There are former Johnny’s fans and even those who were once obsessed with hosts. The age range is broad as well. Some male customers enjoy burlesque too. The minimum charge, excluding tips, is 5,000 yen for two hours. Most customers buy additional tips to give to their favorite cast members,” shared a 22-year-old cast member named Taiga (pseudonym).

During the show, high-value tips ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 yen and expensive champagne were exchanged. The atmosphere in the club was filled with the energy of a bustling market. Rather than competing against each other, fans of the same performer often collaborated to give high tips, reflecting a culture closer to idol fandom than host clubs.

“I also do live streaming, but I find that seeing and talking to customers in person satisfies my desire for validation more. I want to become famous here and rise to the top!” (same as above).

The backgrounds of the cast members varied widely, ranging from former hosts to performers from Ginza show clubs. It seems that the essence of nightlife in Kabukicho is providing a space where men who want to become someone can be supported by women who also aspire to achieve something.

He participated in the drama “Shinjuku Field Hospital” (Fuji Television Network) as a filming collaborator,
Sasaki Chihuahua’s book “Host! Tachinbo! To Yoko! Overdose na Hito-tachi” (Kodansha) is now on sale!

From “FRIDAY” October 18 and 25, 2012 issue