Host and hostess clubs

In Japan, hostess clubs are called kyabakura (キャバクラ), a portmanteau of kyabarē (キャバレー, lit.

They light cigarettes, provide beverages, offer flirtatious conversation, and sing karaoke.

[citation needed] Hostesses often drink with customers each night, and alcohol-related behavior problems are fairly common.

[citation needed] Businesses may pay for tabs as company expenses with the aim of promoting trust among male co-workers or clients.

[3] Hostess clubs have a "no touching" policy, and patrons who try to initiate private or sexual conversation are removed.

[4][5][6][7] A red-light district version of the host/hostess club exists, called seku-kyabakura or ichya-kyabakura, where patrons are permitted to touch their host/hostess above the waist and engage in sexual conversation topics or kissing.

[15] The industry and its dangers were highlighted in 1992 when Carita Ridgway, an Australian hostess, was drugged and killed after a paid date, and in 2000 when Lucie Blackman, a British hostess, was abducted, raped and murdered, allegedly by the same customer, serial killer Joji Obara.

)[19] Hostess bars are also found in other east Asian countries, and in Hawaii, Guam, California, and British Columbia.

[20] A host club (ホストクラブ, hosuto kurabu) has female customers pay for male company.

Host clubs are typically found in more populated areas of Japan, and are numerous in Tokyo districts such as Kabukichō, and Osaka's Umeda and Namba.

[23] Young women lured to "malicious" host clubs can rack up large debts; some of them turn to prostitution to pay them back.

Men who become hosts are often those who either cannot find a white-collar job, or are enticed by the prospect of high earnings through commission.

Because the base hourly wage is usually extremely low, almost any man can become a host regardless of looks or charisma (depending on the bar).

[27] "Mail business" (メール営業) is the practice of a host emailing a customer regularly to ensure their return.

KTVs are usually found in East Asian nations and are a principal location for Chinese business meetings.

[38] Chinese businessmen that visit the KTV maintain a priority of establishing connections within their respective companies.

Hostesses internally degrade their personal and "moral appearance" in order to satisfy a sentiment of masculine pleasure.

[40] These values also relate to the foundations of guanxi, by which there is created a hierarchical system of social order because men possess more power in the KTV than do the hostesses.

They will try to establish a comfortable setting by providing fruit plates, women, or alcoholic drinks.

Mass alcohol consumption has negative effects on the bodies of the individuals that frequently visit KTVs.