Hostessing can seem to be a glamourous, well paying way to spend a few months in a fantastic city. However, the reality is often far from it.

Since Lucie travelled to Tokyo, the industry has grown bigger, and darker. We researched some adverts recently offering 'Hostess' work, strictly hostessing, no dancing, etc. We found that on arrival you are forced to surrender your passport, and subjected to months as an 'escort'.

The story below is the true life experiences of one girl who made the trip to Tokyo's Roppongi district. We have changed the names of characters and bars, clubs etc., but the story itself is true. Read on to find out can actually be awaiting you when you arrive at Narita Airport...

In December 1999 I saw an advert in TNT magazines that read ‘Attractive Hostesses needed, strictly hostessing duties only. £450 per week’. I called the number, and had to go along to a woman called Kay’s flat near Edgware. When I arrived there were 10 girls there, and Kay gave us a talk on the joys of hostessing. She made it sound really safe, and easy. Japanese men were portrayed as being meek and very respectful of women. She then made each of us stand up, and told us ‘Too Fat’, ‘Get a push up bra’, ‘You are fine’ etc… to me she said ‘Go and buy a wig, Japanese men hate short hair on women’. She said I should come back in a couple of days in my wig, and an evening dress to have my photo taken. I did, and within a week I was offered a place by John at City Lights in Roppongi.

I collected my tickets from Kay’s husband at his offices in Golders Green. I can’t remember his name, but he was Japanese and looked quite tough. He was really unfriendly, and wouldn’t give me any information. I was told to look out for a Finnish girl called Anna at the airport, as she would be working at City Lights too. He also said that I must put my wig on before being picked up at Narita Airport by John.

I met Anna in the departure lounge and we sat near each other on the plane. She had worked as a Hostess in Tokyo a few times, and assured me it was fine. We were met at Narita by a bizarre looking Japanese man in a garish suit and yellow glasses. He was with a tall quiet guy known as ‘H’. They drove us to out apartment, and told us to start work the following night. It was silent in the apartment (the other girls were asleep), and the only movement was from the 15 or so Cockroaches scuttling around the sink. We sat in our little room and waited for the others to wake up. When they did, an Aussie girl came in to say hello. She was smoking something on foil, and offered us some. ‘It’s Ice’ she said. I didn’t know what it was, and thought it might be crack. Anna and I declined. We were both really tired, so whilst the other girls worked, we slept. There were 3 bedrooms, with 7 girls in total. The Apartment was small, and the rooms were basically one big room divided up into really small compartments with bunk beds. It was disgusting! At about 2am they all came back, with lots of Iranian guys, and put music on. I got up, and found them all smoking ‘Ice’ and getting changed. Then they all went out. They came back at about 10 am. I didn’t speak to them until the following night, when I started work at City Lights.

The club was upstairs in an office building. It was really small, with awful 80’s décor complete with disco ball. There were seats all around the edge, and a small dance floor in the middle, with a big screen at one end of the room. The walls were all mirrored, and there was a door that led out to a tiny kitchen. John was there, with ‘H’ and another Japanese guy. We all sat down and John told us what to do. Be friendly, smile, and sing when asked (it was a Karaoke bar) Also, dance when asked, change the ash tray as soon as one cigarette has been put out in it, make sure there are always 4 cubes of ice in our customers drink and wipe off any condensation. If our customer needed the toilet, show them where, and wait for them with an Oshiburi (warm towel) outside. Bow when they take the Oshiburi. He then felt all the girls’ legs one by one! I was so shocked. He tutted at me for not wearing tights, and told another girl to go home & shave her legs properly

part 2 >>