When it comes to iconic Japanese figures, there is none other than the famed geishas that come to my mind. Check out this article on the arduous path of becoming a geisha.

Shrouded in myths and misconceptions construed by the rise of Western interpretation, geishas have been perceived as traditional hostesses whose practices often connected with certain forms of sexual innuendos. Contrary to popular belief, geishas are actually forbidden from selling sex. However, this misconception might also stem from the confusion between a Japanese Courtesan and a Geisha due to both adorning the Japanese Kimono.

Personally, for me, I was also one of the ignorant ones, for my initial concept of the Geisha was entirely based on the controversial Hollywood movie starring Zhang Ziyi - Memoirs of a Geisha. I even read the entire book on the bus to school at 15, yes 15.

I was so fascinated by the beauty that I ended up using the book cover of Zhang Ziyi as my inspiration for an art submission - not related to this article but it was a half geisha half robot.

Taikomochi - The Original “Geisha”

Now here’s the interesting part, do you know the first original group of geishas were men? Dating back to the 13 century, they were called the Taikomochi (太鼓持), also known as hōkan (幇間). Female geishas didn’t even exist until 1751.

The word Hokan means a jester, and the word Taikomochi means drum beater. The Taikomochi were jesters, musicians, singers and story tellers. They entertained their feudal lords similar to European court jesters but were also military advisors and strategists who fought in battles.

And yes, there is still remaining Taikomochis in Japan.

What is a male host club?

Male host clubs (ホストクラブ - hosuto kurabu) are nightclubs that provide male companionship to women. If you’re into anime, think the concept of popular anime Ouran High School Host Club but less dreamy and let’s just say more upbeat and energetic! The first host club was opened in Tokyo in 1966.

Majority of these types of establishments are located in the nightlife meccas of Japan, like Tokyo’s red light district of Kabuki-cho in Shinjuku. The most popular hosts in each club are often the “face” of the clubs, featured on live size advertisement prints and billboards. Responsibilities of the host includes drinking, engaging in conversations as well as a little bit of flirting (okay maybe a lot of flirting). Some host clubs have a dedicated stage for a performance, mostly a dance.

How does it work?

There are three roles on a table - the customer, the “shimei” and the “herupu”.

1) The customer is presented with a “menu” of the hosts available on roster. The customer then decides from the menu which host they like most, and choose the host as the “Shimei” (指名).

2) Once a “Shimei” is chosen, he becomes the tanto, or the “director”, of your table.

3) The club will then assign 2 or more “herupu” to assist the “shimei” in entertaining the customer.

Male hosts are tasked to encourage customer spending as their earnings are parallel to how much their customers spend in a night. There are bottle packages that customers can choose from.

In Japan’s male host clubs, buying bottles of champagne usually means a “champagne call“ (シャンパンコール) where all the hosts of the club will gather around the table with a mic to hype the table up - similar to club models holding up champagne bottles lit and illuminating LED light in the clubs in Singapore.

Source: Club Est G Japan

How much do they earn?

Enjoying the company of Japanese male hosts comes with a hefty price tag. Drinks usually start at about ¥1000 but can reach up to ¥6 million (SGD73,680.00) for a bottle of champagne. That’s equivalent to a whopping 26,000 roasted sweet potatoes from dondonki!

According to a 2018 Japan Today article, one of the most successful male host in Japan, @roland_0fficial holds the record for the most “sales” for a single day, month, and year. On his birthday in 2017, patrons allegedly spent 10 million yen on him within three hours. Birthdays are, of course, when clients spend the most money on their favourite host, but Roland has also been able to rack up as much as 42 million yen in an ordinary month.

Source: @roland_0fficial

If you have time, check out this documentary by VICE Japan surrounding the business side of managing male host clubs and being a male host featuring @roland_0fficial when he was “Naoki”. He since has changed his persona post surgery.

Would you ever visit a male host club in Japan? To be honest, i personally would for maybe like a one-time experience and mostly, to ease my ever seething curiosity. Then again, i’ll probably need to save up quite a fair bit.

If you liked this article, you might enjoy reading more about Japanese Culture below:

The Tough Journey to Becoming a Geisha

The Wacky World of 80s Advertising in Japan

Try (Your Coffin & Burial Clothes!) Before You Die: Japan’s Shukatsu Festival