AV actress Reiko Yamaguchi matures into bar mama in Kabukicho
July 12, 2010 by Kenji Nakano
G-cup AV actress Reiko Yamaguchi has spent much of her career playing “mature” leading ladies. Yet ten years after her debut she finds herself as a full bar mama-san at a snack in Tokyo’s entertainment district of Kabukicho.
“Since I have experience as a hostess and I also wanted to create a venue for interaction with my fans, I decided to open this bar,” says the AV veteran to evening tabloid Nikkan Gendai (July 12) about her club called Bar Naked, which opened in April. “With me working ‘naked’ on a regular basis, I came up with this name because I wanted to expose the other side of me.”
The bar has 15 seats behind the counter. Entry fees start at 60 minutes for 2,500 yen. Sparkling wine (Cafe de Paris) can be purchased for 3,000 yen, and the actress, who has starred in roughly 500 adult video features, will sandwich the bottle between her 98-centimeter breasts as a no-charge extra before pouring. On Friday and Saturday nights part-time girls also serve. [Read more]
Japan’s first SM-themed soapland comes to Kobe
June 30, 2010 by Amy Takahashi
As a keen observer of perversions, fetishes and assorted erotica, evening tabloid Nikkan Gendai (June 29) believes it has uncovered Japan’s first club that combines soapland and SM services.
Kobe R&B opened in Hyogo Prefecture in May. Individual rooms are outfitted in red and black furnishings and offer the prospect of limb shackling to the ceiling or bed. Various vibrators and electric stimulation devices are provided for the S and M courses.
A sukebe isu (or “lecher chair”), a specially fabricated seat that enables easy access to a customer’s privates, is also at the ready for the culmination soap-down service. [Read more]
Models and stewardesses become tour bus babes
June 24, 2010 by Kenji Nakano
Staffing and training corporation Wellcom has started a tour service employing roughly 300 ladies called Bibus, which supplies sightseeing buses with female guides who used to be flight attendants and models. The company tells Shukan Asahi Geino (July 1) that the impetus for the program was the advanced ages of many existing guides.
A member of the company’s public relations department explains: “We originally had the service Bishoku (jobs employing beautiful women) in which former flight attendants and models went through training to become receptionists and secretaries. Then we heard about the aging issue with bus tour guides.”
The Bibus program, whose name is an amalgamation of bijin (美人) (beautiful woman) and bus (バス), began taking applications in October, 2009 and kicked off services in May of this year. On a busy day, up to 40 buses will be staffed by Bibus babes.
It is not just the customers who are benefiting, Shukan Asahi Geino assures. “Needless to say, a ‘thank you’ from clients is nice,” guide Fuyuko Tajima tells the tabloid. “Moreover, kids telling us ‘See you later’ or ‘I am back!’ will relieve any fatigue we may have.” (K.N.)
Sports tabloid Daily Sports to offer digital edition
February 2, 2010 by Kenji Nakano
The newspaper industry in Japan appears to be readying itself for the electronic era . Tabloid Daily Sports reported last week that it would begin a special digital newspaper service today.
The sports paper said that most Japanese newspapers rely on advertising for revenue, a contrast to the U.S. model that is based on subscription fees. However, the global wave of readers accessing written publications online is forcing Japanese newspaper companies to make a move before it is too late.
A part of the Kobe Shimbun group, the paper is known for its extensive coverage of the Hanshin Tigers. This new service, in which readers will be charged 1,890 yen per month, coincides with the commencement of spring training activities for all 12 professional ball clubs. The content of the digital edition will duplicate that of the conventional paper.
The paper is offering a one-month trial period that is accessible at this link. Use the following access information. ユーザーID: “dailysports” and パスワード Password – “denshi” (K.N.)
Hanshin Tigers ready to roar in 2010
January 5, 2010 by Amy Takahashi
With the Year of Tiger now underway, the owner of Kansai’s Hanshin ball club, conveniently bearing the same nickname, is already on the prowl for the Central League crown, reports tabloid Daily Sports (Jan. 4).
Shinya Sakai, the 61-year-old president of Hanshin Electric Railway, the team’s parent, said that on his first day of work this year (Jan. 4) that he visited shrines in the Kobe area on January 1, during what is referred to as hatsumode, or first visit, to pray for a Tiger title.
“Nagata, Ikuta, Minatogawa — I took the train to visit all of them, situated along the rail line,” said the club’s “general” in charge. [Read more]
Hideki Matsui museum drawing crowds on heels of World Series MVP
January 4, 2010 by Kenji Nakano
The museum dedicated to former New York Yankees star Hideki Matsui attracted an unprecedented number of visitors over the New Year holiday as a result of the designated hitter winning the Most Valuable Player award during last year’s World Series, reports tabloid Daily Sports (Jan. 4).
The Matsui Hideki Baseball Museum, located in his hometown of Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, welcomed 650 fans on January 3, this year’s first day of operation. That attendance figure is triple the number of an average day.
Heavy snow was not a deterrent. Masai Matsui, the ballplayer’s father, who is the managing director of the museum, was delighted. “I saw cars lined up 20 minutes prior to the opening,” the elder Matsui beamed. “Did the MVP have an effect? I believe so.” [Read more]
Williams’ return to Tigers possible at midseason
December 21, 2009 by Kenji Nakano
Sports tabloid Daily Sports reports that the Hanshin Tigers are investigating the possibility of bringing back left-handed reliever Jeff Williams at mid-season next year.
A fan favorite since joining the Tigers in 2003, Williams, who hails from Australia, had arm surgery after the 2008 campaign and returned this year in a limited role before another operation at midseason. Should the club determine that it will be difficult for him to return as a player, they are also looking at offering him a position as U.S.-based scout.
Williams shared indicated to the tabloid in November that his doctor believed that he should be able to pitch again in May. A senior manager from the Tigers office explains: “We want him to contribute to Hanshin one way or the other. While the language barrier may exist, he has been a role model in our bullpen.” (K.N.)
Gas Panic in Roppongi raided, president arrested
December 6, 2009 by Kenji Nakano
TOKYO (TR) – Two establishments within the popular Gas Panic chain of nightclubs were cited by police last month for violation of a national ordinance, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 1).
Police raided club GP Bar and Club 99 in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo on November 29 for operating a nightclub where patrons were allowed to dance, drink and eat in a manner that violated the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses — a nationwide code with sections regarding nightlife activities, one of which prohibits dancing after 1 a.m. without special authorization.
Six arrests were made, including the president, 34-year-old Hidenori Wakita.
Frequented by young people and foreigners, the clubs had been under surveillance for several years, the report says. [Read more]
Sports tabloid Nagai Times goes from boobs to bust
December 1, 2009 by Amy Takahashi
TOKYO (TR) – Media outlets are reporting that tabloid Naigai Times filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Over its 60-year run, the sports paper became known for its coverage of adult entertainment, celebrity news, gambling and gravure idols. In its most recent incarnation, it was known as Real Sports, which employed 50 people and distributed 260,000 copies daily.
After being purchased by a real estate company last year, the paper adopted a “no-sleaze” policy — as reported in these pages here — in April of this year. But the following month, with advertising revenue falling, it reverted back to smut content. In September, the sheet adopted the Real Sports title. Attempts were also made to focus on its Web site.
At its peak, in 1964, the paper boasted a daily circulation of between 700,000 and 800,000 copies. Publication ceased with the November 30 issue.
Credit research company Teikoku Databank lists the company as having an accumulated debt of 2.677 billion yen. (A.T.)
