xadoa
10-26-2006, 05:56 AM
Kansai's red lights still glowing strong
It's been five years since Asahi Geino's last visit to Tobita Shinchi. The district, a 10-minute walk from Dobutsuen-mae on Osaka's Sakaisuji subway line in Nishinari Ward, stands on the site of the its predecessor, the old Tobita Yukaku (licensed brothel quarters), which was founded in 1918.
After the Anti-prostitution Law went into force in April 1958, the old two-story establishments therein officially became "restaurants." But young women still sit by the ground floor windows waiting to escort male customers to rooms upstairs, assisted by businesslike crones who handle the negotiations.
At the 80 to 90 establishments currently operating in Tobita, rates begin at 11,000 yen for 15 minutes, rising to 16,000 yen for 20 minutes and 22,000 yen for 30 minutes; but discounts can be negotiated, especially with some of the older gals or when business is slow. Once inside the room, time is of the essence, and the standard method of getting clean prior to performing the act is a few quick swipes with a pre-moistened towelette.
After a hiatus of five years, the first thing that struck Asahi Geino's reporter is how the quality of women working at Tobita had considerably improved. Some gals were even outstanding -- as cute, he said, as the "idols" that appear on TV.
What's the explanation for the sudden appearance of these lovelies?, wonders Asagei's reporter.
"The quality has definitely improved over the past three years," says the editor at a magazine covering Osaka's "pink" trade. "One theory is that a major police crackdown of 'fashion health' massage parlors at Daikokucho, which had the city's biggest pink area, drove the girls to work at Tobita."
Apparently Tobita gets away with things that would bring down the authorities elsewhere.
"Basically, if you can get a couple of girls to come to work for you, then you've got a viable business," explains an ad agency rep who specializes in placing sex industry recruitment advertisements in specialty magazines. "If a girl owes you money and you want to put her to work, Tobita's about the only place you can get away with it. You could never put her to work in other kinds of pink business."
"The police have been cracking down on that kind of stuff," agrees the operator of an underground massage service in Osaka's Nipponbashi district. "Forcing a woman into white slavery to pay off debts is illegal, and we won't take that kind of risk. To put girls out on sale, manage them and collect money from the customers takes manpower and knowhow. Most sex shops these days don't want the extra bother."
In the past, Tobita's workers featured a high percentage of women from Okinawa or Kyushu, who came to the big city in search of work. But recently, writes Asahi Geino's reporter, a surprising number of local Osaka girls can be found working there. The reason is simple economics. A gal's cut of the house take is 60 percent. By servicing 10 Johns a day, she clears about 100,000 yen -- an income no massage parlor or soapland can match.
More girls at Tobita are making efforts to cater to customer fantasies, such as by adorning themselves in maid costumes or wearing glasses to give them a more "intellectual" appearance.
Manon, age 22, is a native Osakan. She had been earning a decent income as a hostess in a cabaret club. Now she's in her third week of work in Tobita. "This guy I met introduced me," she says. "He told me working here would be a 'learning experience.'"
Asahi Geino's survey of Kansai red light districts doesn't stop at Tobita. A map of the region identifies now fewer than nine locales where houses of prostitution operate openly. Osaka proper boasts two other red-light areas: Matsushima Shinchi in Nishi Ward (70 shops) and Imazato Shinchi in Ikuno Ward (30 shops), bringing the city's total to nearly 200. And other red-light areas can be found around Kannami Shinchi in Amagasaki City (30 to 40 establishments); Shintaizan Shinchi in Izumi City (30 establishments); Gojo Rakuen in Kyoto (15); Ikoma City (10); Takii Shinchi in Moriguchi City (10) and Tenno Shinchi in Wakayama City (5).
It's been five years since Asahi Geino's last visit to Tobita Shinchi. The district, a 10-minute walk from Dobutsuen-mae on Osaka's Sakaisuji subway line in Nishinari Ward, stands on the site of the its predecessor, the old Tobita Yukaku (licensed brothel quarters), which was founded in 1918.
After the Anti-prostitution Law went into force in April 1958, the old two-story establishments therein officially became "restaurants." But young women still sit by the ground floor windows waiting to escort male customers to rooms upstairs, assisted by businesslike crones who handle the negotiations.
At the 80 to 90 establishments currently operating in Tobita, rates begin at 11,000 yen for 15 minutes, rising to 16,000 yen for 20 minutes and 22,000 yen for 30 minutes; but discounts can be negotiated, especially with some of the older gals or when business is slow. Once inside the room, time is of the essence, and the standard method of getting clean prior to performing the act is a few quick swipes with a pre-moistened towelette.
After a hiatus of five years, the first thing that struck Asahi Geino's reporter is how the quality of women working at Tobita had considerably improved. Some gals were even outstanding -- as cute, he said, as the "idols" that appear on TV.
What's the explanation for the sudden appearance of these lovelies?, wonders Asagei's reporter.
"The quality has definitely improved over the past three years," says the editor at a magazine covering Osaka's "pink" trade. "One theory is that a major police crackdown of 'fashion health' massage parlors at Daikokucho, which had the city's biggest pink area, drove the girls to work at Tobita."
Apparently Tobita gets away with things that would bring down the authorities elsewhere.
"Basically, if you can get a couple of girls to come to work for you, then you've got a viable business," explains an ad agency rep who specializes in placing sex industry recruitment advertisements in specialty magazines. "If a girl owes you money and you want to put her to work, Tobita's about the only place you can get away with it. You could never put her to work in other kinds of pink business."
"The police have been cracking down on that kind of stuff," agrees the operator of an underground massage service in Osaka's Nipponbashi district. "Forcing a woman into white slavery to pay off debts is illegal, and we won't take that kind of risk. To put girls out on sale, manage them and collect money from the customers takes manpower and knowhow. Most sex shops these days don't want the extra bother."
In the past, Tobita's workers featured a high percentage of women from Okinawa or Kyushu, who came to the big city in search of work. But recently, writes Asahi Geino's reporter, a surprising number of local Osaka girls can be found working there. The reason is simple economics. A gal's cut of the house take is 60 percent. By servicing 10 Johns a day, she clears about 100,000 yen -- an income no massage parlor or soapland can match.
More girls at Tobita are making efforts to cater to customer fantasies, such as by adorning themselves in maid costumes or wearing glasses to give them a more "intellectual" appearance.
Manon, age 22, is a native Osakan. She had been earning a decent income as a hostess in a cabaret club. Now she's in her third week of work in Tobita. "This guy I met introduced me," she says. "He told me working here would be a 'learning experience.'"
Asahi Geino's survey of Kansai red light districts doesn't stop at Tobita. A map of the region identifies now fewer than nine locales where houses of prostitution operate openly. Osaka proper boasts two other red-light areas: Matsushima Shinchi in Nishi Ward (70 shops) and Imazato Shinchi in Ikuno Ward (30 shops), bringing the city's total to nearly 200. And other red-light areas can be found around Kannami Shinchi in Amagasaki City (30 to 40 establishments); Shintaizan Shinchi in Izumi City (30 establishments); Gojo Rakuen in Kyoto (15); Ikoma City (10); Takii Shinchi in Moriguchi City (10) and Tenno Shinchi in Wakayama City (5).