Being a hostess had nothing to do with sex but a lot to do with psychology. When it comes to employment opportunities for foreigners in Japan, eclectic is definitely the key word. Of course there are the countess teaching jobs, but if you are an attractive young woman looking for a quick way of expanding both your horizons and bank balance, what about working at a hostess club?
While it is currently illegal for foreigners to work at a hostess club in Japan unless they are Japanese citizens or have a spousal visa, many women still find employment in this profession that is seen, by some, as a modern incarnation of geisha.
Carrie from Australia already had a full time job as a high school ALT, but was looking for a little extra cash and a new experience. When a friend suggested she tried hostessing, despite the cautionary tales of stalkers and obsessed clients, she decided to throw caution to the wind. She learned quickly.
Carrie soon found that one of the most common misconceptions of hostessing, that it is thinly veiled borderline prostitution, was somewhat misguided. These wealthy men that come into the hostess clubs are intelligent, generous but most of all very lonely. Working just one or two shifts a week to supplement her weekly wage, Carrie found hostessing little more than an interesting diversion, but Amy, also from Australia, found the experience an altogether darker adventure.
She worked every night for the rest of the week and enjoyed the glamour. She was dressing up, drinking champagne in a beautiful club, and getting paid for it. The glamorous sheen of that first week quickly lost its lustre however, as she began to understand the reality of her surroundings. Of course, money is the aim of the game.
