To circumvent the anti-prostitution laws, the brothels operate largely under the guise of being "Japanese-style restaurants" (Ryoutei).

[1] An elderly woman called the 'Yarite Babaa’[3] or 'Mama-san',[2] often the owner of the residence, sits in the genkan and greets male passers-by[3] with phrases like douzo, onii-san (どうぞ、お兄さん, "Welcome, young man").

[8] The brothels were moved to the current Tobita Shinchi location after a cemetery was cleared from the grounds.

[8] The area escaped the bombing of Osaka during WW2, and continued to thrive until the Prostitution Prevention Law came into effect on 1 April 1958.

Subsequent sexual contact between the "waitress" and the client is viewed as a "private affair" between them under Osaka's liberal interpretation of the law.