<h3>Even now, after a 32-year career, he remains at the top, with 10,000 students nationwide in places like Yoshiwara and Kanazuen.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_435580" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2402px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435580"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5b393c21"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/82ff549ef625a67ba71de06c42fe6141-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435580" class="wp-caption-text">Hitomi Nishi / Affiliated with “FORTE” in Fukuhara. She debuted as a soapland worker in Kanazuen and has since continued to dominate the industry in a dual role as both player and teacher. She is 149 cm tall, with measurements of 89 (F cup)–56–85.</figcaption></figure>
The NHK Taiga drama “Berabou ~ Tsutaju Eika no Yumebanashi ~” has attracted attention. Unlike previous Taiga dramas, it directly explores the entertainment districts of peaceful times, conveying in detail the Yoshiwara of the Edo period and the culture of oiran (high-ranking courtesans), making it endlessly fascinating.
In Kobe’s Fukuhara, a legendary soapland district rivaling Yoshiwara in the west, there is a legendary soapland worker.
Hitomi Nishi (50) of “FORTE,” with her 89 cm F-cup bust, a cinched waist, and dazzling legs, is a petite beauty whose short haircut makes her look decades younger than she is. She entered the adult entertainment industry at 18 and, after a 32-year career, continues to rank at the top in both popularity and sales, surpassing even 20-something idol workers.
What makes Nishi a legend is not only her popularity. Male clients as well as younger workers visit her to learn from her. She is a teacher of soapland techniques, passing on her mastery to other workers. The total number of her student exceeds 10,000. In the context of the era depicted in Berabou, she could be likened to the oiran of oiran.
Many of the techniques she teaches are classical in style. They are categorized by difficulty and have elegant names like “Oyama no Taisho,” “Tsuru no Ongaeshi,” and “Omote-Moguri.” She intentionally uses classical terms rather than mundane ones, upholding the traditional path of Japanese adult entertainment.
Nishi began her career in Kanazuen, the largest soapland district in the Chubu region (Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture). She also worked at an automotive maintenance shop in parallel but says, “This world suited me perfectly.”
<h3>Origin as a Teacher</h3>
Immediately after entering the soapland, Nishi underwent a training session. This experience later became the foundation for her role as a teacher.
Five to six naked workers were gathered in a room, and senior workers acted as instructors. It was an intense experience.
“At that time, we greeted customers with a formal three-bow posture, but if even the placement of your hands was slightly off, the instructor would step on your fingertips. Those who were slow to learn were grabbed by the hair and had their heads pushed into the bathtub.”
Workers who performed poorly were required to provide services to the manager or male staff in private rooms. Performing sexual techniques on colleagues was an extreme humiliation and did not contribute much to skill improvement; it was mainly punitive. Because it was done at the discretion of male staff, it was despised as hobby training, though some adult entertainment establishments still practice it today.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Volunteer training after business hours...exhausted by hard work, they go to Yoshiwara."></div>
<h3>“If I got kicked out here, I’d have nowhere to go”</h3>
Nishi was an exceptionally skilled worker. She picked up the training extremely quickly, and astonishingly, by her second day at the store, she was already asked to give lessons to other workers.
“I was a runaway, so if I got kicked out of this place, I’d have nowhere to go and no money to eat. I desperately did my best to meet the request.”
At that time, customer service continued until midnight, and training for colleagues began after business hours. Moreover, it was done voluntarily. Nishi was physically and mentally exhausted, and in her early twenties, she decided to leave Kanazuen and head to Yoshiwara.
“But I didn’t end up working in Yoshiwara. I got to Tokyo Station, but when I asked the station staff, ‘How do I get to Yoshiwara?’ they responded really coldly. I thought, ‘Ah, I can’t work in such a cold place,’ and turned right around to head to Fukuhara. Isn’t that silly? Of course, I was mistaken—there are plenty of girls happily working in Yoshiwara (laughs).”
Incidentally, the area historically known as “Yoshiwara” no longer exists as an official place name in Tokyo; it’s now part of Senzoku, Taito Ward. Young women mentioning “Yoshiwara” likely caused the station staff to give them a puzzled look.
<h3>Kobe Fukuhara: Where Everyday Life and the Red-Light District Intersect</h3>
The red-light district in Kobe’s Fukuhara began as a licensed pleasure district in 1868, shortly after the opening of Kobe Port (later relocated). Walking through the area gives a different vibe compared to Yoshiwara. It’s just a short walk from the nearest station, Shinkaichi, with an arcade of shops nearby. Businessmen walk past the signs of soaplands on their way to work, while women on mama-chari bikes with child seats ride to their shifts at soaplands. Here, ordinary daily life and the red-light district are seamlessly connected.
Once, while having a meal with Nishi at an izakaya in Shinkaichi, a woman at the next table introduced herself, saying, “I work at a soap here, and he’s my last client for today.” Nishi replied, “Oh, I work at a soap too.” The woman then asked, “May I ask your name?”
“Nishi Hitomi.”
“You mean, that Nishi-san?”
Although Nishi is a legend, she has never revealed her face on the store’s website, which explains why such encounters happen.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="I want to finish the course in my generation."></div>
<h3>“I Want to End It with My Generation”</h3>
During her 32-year career, Nishi spent only two years away from the soap industry. Overwhelmed by mentally and emotionally taxing events, she became reclusive. Spiritually and financially drained, she eventually returned to Fukuhara. Upon her return, she began giving lessons not only to the women at her own store but also to those working elsewhere—this was in her late 30s.
“I received a lot of requests to conduct lessons. I wanted to put an end to the humiliation and bullying I experienced during training in my generation. I hoped to train women in proper techniques so that they wouldn’t have to undergo ‘hobby lessons’ or face harassment out of envy,” she said.
During the lessons, both instructor and student wear swimsuits, and Nishi first experiences the student’s play herself. The content is fully customized for each student.
“Whether the girl is showcasing a ‘novice charm’ or wants to learn the basics and advanced techniques to work at a high-end store, I adjust the training accordingly. Height, weight, and finger length also influence the lesson plan. Nowadays, many girls have long nails, so I teach them how to manage that as well.”
She also instructs on physical care.
“Some clients can be reckless. For example, they might try to rub saliva on the girl’s body—but saliva is full of bacteria. I’ve even contracted an infection myself.”
In the past, a technique called ear-licking was practiced, but due to hygiene concerns, it is no longer done.
“In place of that—”
Nishi gently cupped the author’s left ear with her soft hand and brought her lips close to the right ear, whispering softly. External sounds were muted, and Nishi’s sultry voice echoed in the mind, creating an indescribable sensation.
Being a trade secret, Nishi did not reveal the full details of the traditional techniques, but even in these subtle gestures, her accumulated wisdom and exceptional skill were clearly evident.
<h3>As Important as Technique</h3>
The legend’s reputation has spread nationwide through word of mouth, attracting students not only from her hometown of Fukuhara but also from places like Yoshiwara and Kanazuen. Many of the students are top-ranking, popular women at their own stores.
“They’re popular because they’re curious and serious. They come saying, ‘I want to expand my range of skills,’” Nishi explained.
The same applies to Nishi herself. The reason so many clients have been requesting her for 20 years, and why she remains at the top of the rankings even after 32 years, is that she values seriousness just as much as her refined and diverse techniques.
“What I often tell the girls is: don’t treat it like an assembly line—observe each customer carefully. Each person has different preferences for where to be touched or not touched. I think of it almost like a medical examination. Another important point is showing up to work. Some girls decide to skip a shift on the day, called a last-minute absence, based on their mood. They might not realize how much trust they lose with the client and the store. I am strict about this myself, and the popular girls always stick to the schedule they submitted.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with no compensation for work absences and society’s cold gaze exposed, Nishi continued to move forward.
“If people want to look down on us, let them. We work with pride. My role is to teach the students who come to learn skills that allow them to earn properly.”
Recently, her students have been asking about the future. Nishi has already opened an esthetic salon as another path, which she calls her main job. But what about retiring from being a player herself?
“I haven’t set a specific age for retirement. I plan to continue until my mind or body can’t handle it anymore.”
<figure id="attachment_435581" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435581"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d33ee648"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/bf4703e7773cf757be20500330e07714-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435581" class="wp-caption-text">She serves clients dressed in a suit. Even in Fukuhara, she commands top-class rates, and at 50 years old, she remains the undisputed number one in popularity!</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_435582" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435582"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="2f642ce1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/818d55a422a90713e4c3f6a5f635fee6-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435582" class="wp-caption-text">A list of the techniques Nishi teaches her girls exists, though the details are a trade secret, and some have been passed down since her days in Yoshiwara.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_435583" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435583"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="beb2c43d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/821831727be073358afb051980dcd191.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435583" class="wp-caption-text">She always keeps her fingertips clean and maintains hygiene. To avoid harming a client’s body, she does not wear nail decorations.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_435586" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435586"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="63170754"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/2f0c893f2161dcbfb29a84548fa65f4f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435586" class="wp-caption-text">On Yanagi Street, one of the streets surrounding Fukuhara, many girls live near Shinkaichi Station and often see each other at local izakayas.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_435585" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435585"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ec5ea47a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/e9a8fe589cea0b64ebd6d43f6096732c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435585" class="wp-caption-text">Her favorite spot in Kobe’s Sannomiya district is the wine bar “VINSEMBLE,” where she enjoys conversations with the sommelier.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_435588" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-435588"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b92b7b86"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/08/b5091b21198410da3bb8c663271247ac.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435588" class="wp-caption-text">A moment from a boat outing with girls who admire Nishi: a private yakatabune (pleasure boat) gathering where students from all over Japan came to join.</figcaption></figure>
—From &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;, combined issue August 22–29, 2025

 Noriyuki Kanda

 Yoshiko Souishi

 The Yoshiwara brothels are also depicted in the NHK historical drama "Belabo: Tsutaju Eika No Yume Banashi. In Fukuhara, Kobe, a colorful town to the west that rivals Yoshiwara, there is a legendary soap operative. She is also a "soap teacher" who teaches her skills to prostitutes.

[Full Text] Legendary Soapland Worker Fukuhara Reveals Her Secrets and Pride — Breaking Bad Habits to Protect the Girls

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