<figure id="attachment_420414" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-420414"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8b471336"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/04/2859bc38e1b7e224a47ef76a64ca5927-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-420414" class="wp-caption-text">When visiting Tobita Shinchi on a certain day in March, many customers were coming and going, but compared to its peak, the current customer traffic is said to be only around 30 to 40 percent.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The harrowing past of a top hostess</h2>
In a 400-meter square area, about 160 &#8220;ryotei&#8221; (traditional Japanese inns) are lined up, illuminated by lanterns, and as night falls, they take on an eerie charm. Men, drawn to this place, exchange short words like &#8220;How much?&#8221; with the experienced waitresses.
This is the daily life of Tobita Shinchi, Japan&#8217;s largest &#8220;chon&#8217;sama&#8221; (a type of entertainment district) located in Osaka’s Nishinari Ward.
In recent years, there had been concerns that, due to purification efforts for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Tobita Shinchi might disappear. Some of the waitresses have mentioned this, but it seems that the area has not been affected.
Tobita Shinchi is sometimes described in a humorous, almost otherworldly way. However, the full scope of this district and the struggles of the people working hard there are little known. Amid this, a woman who once reigned as a top hostess and retired last year revealed the realities of Tobita Shinchi.
When meeting Kaho (a pseudonym) at the rendezvous spot, the first surprise was that she was in her mid-40s. She said, &#8220;I’m often told I look like Atsuko Maeda,&#8221; and indeed, she looked youthful, as though she were in her 20s.
Kaho describes her career as a &#8220;Tobita hostess&#8221; as unusual because she started later than most. She first sat in front of the shop at the age of 30.
Born in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, she grew up in a four-person family with an alcoholic father, a mother terrified of her father’s violence, and a younger brother. She has few memories of being loved by her parents, and due to loneliness, she often went out on the town at night.
“In dramas, there are scenes where families gather at a diner, right? I thought all of that was a lie, it felt disgusting. My home life was so tragic. At 14, I left home and stayed at various people&#8217;s houses, sheltering from the rain and wind.”
In this world she had fled to, she encountered harrowing events that put her life in danger.
“There were times when I was suddenly kidnapped while walking in my hometown and raped in a bathroom. Another time, I was taken to Mount Rokko, raped, and then left naked on the mountain. The number of times I’ve been sexually assaulted is countless.”
Even so, as she worked in factories and as a temporary worker, her life began to stabilize. In her mid-20s, she got married and had a son. She spent her days working in caregiving while also raising her child.
However, one day, her father passed away, leaving behind debts totaling several million yen. She had to take on the responsibility of repaying the debt, and her life drastically changed.
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<h2>Deciding to live in Tobita</h2>
After being forced to divorce, she desperately searched for any job that could help her earn money. It was through a scout that she was introduced to Tobita Shinchi.
She had experience working in local snack bars and lounges in Kitashinchi, but had no experience in the sex industry. It would be a lie to say she had no resistance to selling her body. However, as a woman with only a middle school education in her thirties, she couldn’t think of any other place where she could earn such large amounts of money.
&#8220;On my first day of work, when passersby judged me with their eyes, and when an older man, far older than my father, bought me, I couldn&#8217;t hold back my tears. The reality of having sex with an old, disgusting man made me scream, &#8216;I can&#8217;t do this!&#8217; I couldn&#8217;t suppress my physiological rejection. I couldn’t even smile back at the men walking by. On that first day, I only had two customers. But I knew I had to pay off my parents&#8217; debts and leave money for my child, so I quickly made up my mind. From the day I decided to live in Tobita, I gave up on my own life.&#8221;
Since then, Kaho began working hard to understand men&#8217;s desires. She learned makeup techniques that appealed to men, watched various types of adult films, and studied them.
Within about six months, she figured out the tricks to becoming successful, and soon became a popular hostess, averaging 15 customers a day.
Tobita Shinchi is crowded with young, beautiful women in their early twenties. However, Kaho didn’t ignore the customers&#8217; complaints that the service is bland. She took a different approach in her customer service.
&#8220;I focused on promoting an image of purity. Actually, in Tobita, girls who still have a bit of an uncool appearance tend to make more money. Many of the girls have had plastic surgery, so there is actually a demand for a more natural look. I used my pure image as my weapon, but when it came to play, I would flip the script and perform as a sexually aggressive, perverted woman — the kind you see in adult films, offering intense services.&#8221;
In a world where quick, time-saving services — getting men to climax as quickly as possible — is the norm, Kaho prides herself on never offering such services. While there were current AV actresses working there, it wasn&#8217;t an easy world just because they were famous.
&#8220;There were times when J-League players and celebrities would come in, but many of them had this arrogant misunderstanding, thinking, &#8216;You must be happy to play with a young guy like me.&#8217; But for the hostesses, as long as the money was right, everyone was the same. I never paid attention to cocky young guys. In fact, I hated them.&#8221;
By the system, the women’s share was a 50/50 commission. Kaho worked six days a week, and on the busiest days, she would entertain up to 25 customers. It wasn’t uncommon for her to earn over 3 million yen a month, a level equivalent to the average annual salary of a professional baseball player. When pointed out, she flashed a confident smile.
&#8220;If I had gone the time-saving route, I could’ve made 50 million yen or even more. But that wouldn&#8217;t have lasted, so balance was key. Most girls use things like horse oil, lotion, or medicated creams, but I never did. I&#8217;ve never had a sexually transmitted disease, and people started calling me &#8216;Iron Kaho&#8217; (laughs).&#8221;
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The next part will be revealed here: <a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/420411">&#8220;Part 2: A Former Top Hostess Reveals the Realities of &#8216;Japan’s Largest Chon-no-ma'&#8221;</a>
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From “FRIDAY” April 18, 2025 edition.

 Shimei Kurita (nonfiction writer)

 Tobita Shinchi, Japan's largest chonen, is located in Nishinari-ku, Osaka City. The struggles of the people who work hard in this town are not well known. A woman who once reigned as a "top girl" but retired last year reveals the reality of Tobita.

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