A 20-year-old college student who earns 2 million yen monthly in a sex establishment: "At first I cried every day" - Why sell your body for "hosts"?
"I never thought I'd become so obsessed."
A 20-year-old female university student who sells her body in a brothel and spends most of her 2 million yen earnings on host boys shared her story in an interview with Fuji TV.
In Shinjuku Kabukicho, Japan's busiest business district, along this neon-lit area, many women wait to be "bought." Many of them turned to selling their bodies after accumulating enough 'credits' (known as "tsuke") at the host clubs.
This time, the television station followed a 20-year-old female college student and addicted sex worker to the host clubs, exploring her internal "conflicts" while selling her body and the "reasons" that she continues to patronize these establishments.
"It's like another world - very fascinating."
The interview team met with a 20-year-old female college student who visits host clubs in Kabukicho three to four times a month. That day, he skillfully guided reporters to the host club district of Kabukicho.
His first visit to the host club at the age of 18 came from a "casual invitation" from a friend.
But when she stepped into the club, what caught her eye were the gleaming decorations, the lively chanting atmosphere, and the many host boys listening to her story…
For him, it felt like stepping into "another world."
"It was really fascinating…that feeling."
Her first experience completely charmed he, and she began visiting Kabukicho three to four times a month.
"I never thought I'd become so addicted."
She had over 50 business cards in her house from the host boys she had met,
To him, the host boys were "like friends you could talk to about anything." Sometimes they listened seriously to his troubles; At other times they would joke and laugh together.
Unlike the idols, the host boys were people she could contact regularly. Through that constant and persistent contact, she became increasingly immersed in the world of host clubs.
"Crying Every Day" – Adult Entertainment Tour for Hosts
Initially, he worked in girls' bars and used his earnings to visit host clubs. However, as his expenses increased, his bar income became insufficient to cover the costs.
"The first time I sold my body, I cried every day. Why was I doing this for this gigolo? Sometimes I would suddenly snap out of it and wonder why I was doing this for him."
His words revealed his inner turmoil.
Currently, she works approximately 5 to 6 days per week at an "adult entertainment establishment" and earns approximately 2 million yen monthly. Whenever she has free time, she goes to work at the establishment, serving 7 to 8 customers daily to supplement her income.
When she told her host that she had started working in an adult entertainment establishment, his response was: "Oh, really? Well, good luck with that."
This response seemed extremely cold considering his determination to sell his body. Yet she said that in Kabukicho, "selling one's body for the host boys" appears to be common.
Why sell your body to “support” a host?
She sold her body while crying, yet continued her luxurious lifestyle for the host. What made him so obsessed with her?
The shadow of being compared with her elder sister had been looming deep in her heart since childhood.
Although his family relations were cordial, his excellent sister always received praise, which left him with a severe lack of self-confidence. At such times, his longing for recognition from others became especially intense.
For that, simple compliments from the gigolo - like "Your outfit is so cute" or "You changed your makeup, right?" – were enough to fill his heart with satisfaction.
The host never dismissed him; They constantly confirmed everything about him, thereby satisfying his "need for identity".
She spent almost all the money she earned in the brothel on hosting clubs, yet she showed no sign of qualms about this behavior.
After frequenting the Host Clubs, her views on money and romance changed.
She would sometimes spend more than 1 million yen in a single visit to a host club, completely changing her attitude towards money.
Additionally, his perspective on romance changed. After prolonged interactions with the men of the host club, who prioritized grooming and maintaining a pristine appearance, she found herself completely unable to view the normal men around her as potential romantic partners.
Will you still go to host clubs after canceling the credit?
In December 2023, a major change was revealed around the host clubs in Kabukicho, where she frequently visited.
Due to repeated repayment disputes arising from high-value "credit" transactions at host clubs, Kabukicho's host club operators negotiated with the ward government and decided to eliminate the credit system from April 2024.
She once owned a sum of 1.2 million yen, and at that time, she was practically penniless.
He claimed that he had no intention of spending the money at all, but the host's words – "You're my only choice" – shook his resolve, leading him to order a ¥1.2 million champagne tower.
“Just pay it off next month.” The host's somewhat detached attitude was a stark contrast to her reality – she worked tirelessly, plagued by anxiety every day, to pay off the debt.
Apparently, this “credit” was more than he could repay.
On the other hand, the cancellation of the credit also meant that it would be more difficult for him to visit the host club, as he would have to prepare the entire amount in advance.
After the credits are cancelled, will she continue to patronize the host club?
His answer was: "Yes."
"I might go less, but I want to continue to stay within my budget. If I can help the host a little, that would be nice."
"A million yen isn't worth it, but I want to be together…"
"Is it worth spending one million yen per month on host clubs?"
The interview team asked him this question directly. He replied:
“It seems like millions are being spent on entertainment, and thinking about it that way, it seems wasteful… I could instead buy luxury brand things, which might be more useful to me… But compared to that, the time spent with the host boys is more precious – they are people I would never encounter in my normal life.”
His expression was slightly confused as he answered, as if he wasn't entirely sure of the answer himself.
She felt that she "wasn't worth it", yet she continued to sell her body to male escorts who provided her with complete validation.
What is the "happiness brought by the host boys" that people obtain by selling their bodies and spending millions of yen?
"Even if he stops being the host, I hope we can stay connected. It's not about marriage, but I want to maintain a friendly relationship where we can still be together."
