American Hostess in Japan

It was intriguing to read the story about a young American woman’s experience as a hostess in Japan’s night club. Her name is Elizabeth. She didn’t come to Japan to be a hostess but rather just wanted to visit places and explore the Japanese culture. Many tourists come to Japan for these reasons.

So what is hostess? Hostess refers to a young woman who works as a hostess at a night club but not the kind of hostess you find in American restaurant. Japanese hostess is often compared to “Geisha” and they are called “modern geisha.”

The hostess’s tasks involve flirting with the customers (usually salarymen), fill up the glass before it becomes empty and also light the cigarette. Usually her job doesn’t just end there. Specific night clubs pressure hostesses to bring as many customers as possible back to the club and buy expensive bottles of drinks. This function is exactly the same as Japanese Host. (pronounced Hosuto)

Unlike what’s commonly believed by westerners, hostesses or hosts do not typically sleep with their customers. But their job is to play psychological games to make them fall in love with them so they keep returning to the club to spend more money..Hostess doesn’t sleep with men..but are they invited? Oh sure..I believe so. Men want to take advantage of every opportunity they have to sleep with beautiful young hostesses. Do men try to touch them? and I would say Yes.

I actually worked as a bar waitress/hostess when I was in college. It wasn’t my most pleasant job but I learned a lot and no, I will not return to that industry again. Weighing pros and cons, it is just not worthwhile for me to having to call all these customers and meet up with them outside the clubs all in an attempt to have them come back to the club. That extensive mind games would have driven me crazy. I am sure that some girls are born to be a genius hostess but it’s not for me. (>_<;)