Japan on our TV---

[dogsbody70]

There is at present a programme about Japan.

I guess that when such a programme is thought of-- the focus can be on the

unusual aspects of the way Japanese behave. Maybe it makes for better television. Last night we were treated to a discussion about the Love Dolls that are available for those who wish to use them. One man had his apartment full of these very attractive love dolls-- apparently he has been collecting them for some years.

I will not go into the intimate parts of this-- but perhaps it can be helpful to have a lovely looking doll with all the right bits in the right places.

It was said that many Japanese men are shy-- Herbivores-- was the expression as against female Carnivores. MM strange allegory. However its good that these dolls can be made available for some men. Isn't it?


Are many Japanese men shy with females I wonder?Are some females scary?

It seems strange when knowing the way the soldiers behaved in the war years.

Another place visited was a Host bar apparently very well paid for the male hosts who encourage the female to partake in drinks plus pay for all the drinks of her host-- plus any other men around the table.

it was said sometimes it can cost a woman a thousand pounds a night.!!
Not sure what that is in YEN.

Do Japanese men and women meet in bars-- as they would here in UK?
I suppose there are the Hostess bars for the men to pay out for the woman of their choice also. It seems a really expensive way to meet the other sex.

I wonder if there are a lot of lonely people in Japan.

Are Geisha available? I should imagine that they are extremely expensive as they have to demonstrate their varied skills?

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by dogsbody70

Are Geisha available? I should imagine that they are extremely expensive as they have to demonstrate their varied skills?

I've seen programmes from NHK about Geisha and from what I've gathered, a gaijin has almost no chance of being entertained by one unless he is invited by a customer who is almost a "regular" at hanamachi ochayas. That world seems to be closed to foreigners for the most part and all you get to see is them traveling about the hanamachi from okiya to ochaya. I think it has much to do with the ochayas catering to people they know, along with their tastes and likes and therefore wouldn't want to service people they are not comfortable with. It is quite expensive to go to one of these places and I've heard of $2000 to $4000/person for a party not being too rare.... Those places have their regular clientele and cater only to them, for the most part. If one is invited to attend one of these places, I'd imagine it would be considered an honor and utmost privilege.

That was the impression I've taken from watching those documentaries, so it may not be entirely true....

[Nyororin]

Dolls like this are available the world over - It really isn`t a thing unique to Japan. I believe you hit the nail on the head when you said it makes for better television.
People think, and want to think, that Japan is a strange and weird place - filled with people who do strange things. The media caters to that and seeks out "strange Japan", as it is what gets readers/viewers and makes them money. I have come upon stories in magazines talking about how some very strange thing in "extremely popular in Japan" - and even in the article itself it will say "10 people" or something like that. 10 people is not "popular" - it`s very VERY rare. Selling 100 of something over the past 5 years is not a sign of it being a new trend across Japan.

But it sells. People want to see things about the "weird" of Japan. It`s really silly and frustrating to me because there are just as many weird and obsessed people, and strange items in other countries, but they don`t make the world news.

Another place visited was a Host bar apparently very well paid for the male hosts who encourage the female to partake in drinks plus pay for all the drinks of her host-- plus any other men around the table.

These places exist, but when you know more about the world of that kind of nightlife, it becomes very clear what is normal and what is not. There have been some really good studies / nonfiction books on the subject.
The kind of women who spend that much money are generally the kind of women who make that much money doing something similar in the opposite (hostess bars). The kind of men who spend that much on the women are men with tons of money, no time for real relationships, and a very competitive personality. The girls who work in those places are sexually "off limits" - but if enough is invested one MIGHT get the urge to see the guy outside of work... And it becomes bragging rights.
Anyway, to get back to the host bars - I believe the average for a night out is something like 25000yen. And the average visitor isn`t a "regular".

Do Japanese men and women meet in bars-- as they would here in UK?

Bars in Japan are really a bit different, I think. The feeling is much closer to a regular restaurant that serves alcohol. Going out and meeting new people at a bar is really not all that common. They`re places to meet up, usually in a group, with people you already know.

I suppose there are the Hostess bars for the men to pay out for the woman of their choice also. It seems a really expensive way to meet the other sex.

Hostess bars aren`t really there to meet the other sex though. They`re there for men who want the thrill of the chase without any of the strings.

I wonder if there are a lot of lonely people in Japan.

I doubt any more than elsewhere in the world.

Are Geisha available? I should imagine that they are extremely expensive as they have to demonstrate their varied skills?

Geisha are a status symbol on their own. A way to show off money and negotiation skill. Most definitely not a way to meet someone.

----

As you seem to be interested in people meeting the other sex, you might want to look into omiai. It`s a fairly traditional matchmaking service of sorts. In more traditional families, when they have the coming of age ceremony at 20, they will have omiai photos taken. Years down the line, the photos are used along with personal histories to match people up for marriage.

[RobinMask]

Post Deleted.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by RobinMask

These 'children dolls' also had a demand too, there were quite a few people buying them.

It makes sense for things to be brought up in that light - but I must say I`m a bit curious about how high the "demand" is. I have seen SO many cases where something is presented as extremely popular, in huge demand, etc etc in Japan... And the actual sales have been in the single digits.
Inquiries do not equal sales, but media presents every inquiry as if it were a real sale (when in reality most inquiries are either people who are just curious, or the media themselves.)

[dogsbody70]

Originally Posted by RobinMask

I saw the show that Dogsbody mentioned, and I think - what she may not have seemingly picked up on - isn't that the dolls themselves were considered an oddity unique only to Japan (I've seen dolls like those in America and other places too). The issue that the foriegner had - and what did make these dolls unique to Japan - was that there were children dolls.

Some of these dolls made were extremely lifelike, I mean at a glance you could probably mistake them for being actual people, and there were 'anatomically correct' too, but not all the dolls were adult in appearance, some were specifically designed to look around thirteen years of age, some even younger (in my opinion). The presenter focussed on this because (a) the age of consent is so low, and (b) such dolls sexualise children and woul very likely be illegal in most other countries. These 'children dolls' also had a demand too, there were quite a few people buying them. So in this respect I would say that this behaviour/attitude is unique to Japan, and the media was probably right for commenting on it as being so. The presenter found such merchandise appalling, the guy who made them disagreed, but - the point is - these dolls wouldn't be allowed in any other country and do raise a moral argument.

you are right there robin, Yes I think the Presenter was disturbed about the children type dolls of course. One way was to think that Okay they might prevent a man from attacking or using a real child-- Or on the other would they make children More vulnerable.

No doubt there are thousands of magazines/dvd's around that could do that-- and sure it must be true that these love dolls are available anywhere I suppose. We hear a lot about pornograpahy and people downloading child images of pornography. so thats not new-- Its worrying though.

Are the love dolls a safety valve-- Or conversely-- a trigger towards the real thing?
Yes and no doubt there are lonely people everywhere. Very true I am sure.

I suppose programmes made about UK could also depict the unusual or possibly hidden things that occur all the time.
At least a love doll will not have great demands on a man, wouldn't nag or ask for money.
I remember when Kelly Osborne was in Japan there again they chose the unusual events.

[Ghap]

let me say this is terrible

im just glad that no one here can type into a internet search engine things like "justin bieber" and get semi sexulised photo's.

Also I am thankful my 8 year old neice can tell me how sexy he is.

Im thankful that we have only erudite heroes
YouTube - Justin Bieber doesn't know what German is?

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well 1 sentance still stands