This documentary follows the life and times of hosts and their clients at a club called Cafe Rakkyo. It’s an interesting look into what drives the host club industry and the toll it takes on both hosts and as well as the clients. The picture painted is of a vicious circle that degrades the women into continuing their risky work as fuzoku or prostitutes in order to go to the host club and spend tons of cash to receive “emotional healing.” The hosts themselves, while getting the better hand in the deal, end up paying for their lifestyle with their health. It’s a very sad, yet facinating world, but it is definitely not one I’d particularly like to enter. Take a look:

Thanks to youtube user phlegmagma for uploading these videos.

J-blogger Neil Duckett has a great write up on the film as well as some photos of hosts operating in Tokyo at his site.