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Naughty Nakasu (Qjmp: 19021)
"Entertainment Area"
Comment by Nick May
Naughty Nakasu
Nakasu is one of Japan's premier "business entertainment" areas. Aside from over 1000 bars and clubs, some of them so tiny one wonders how customers can even sit down, Nakasu also hosts a discreet "soapland" area and a variety of other establishments offering pleasures sensual. It has been hit badly by the recession and the consequent drop in the business entertainment budget, but survives still.
But don't assume it is all, or even primarily, about sex - it ISN'T. This is NOT a prostitution area. Many of the clubs and bars are exactly what they claim to be - places where businessmen can entertain each other or go to have their egos gently stroked by young hostesses. Ego stroking is mostly all that goes on. Japan is a very hierarchichal society - which means there is always somebody in the company bullying you, and often a wife at home who celebrates her supposedly underdog status by trampling all over her spouse (after, of course, having relieved him of his paypacket and given him a meagre allowance). The hostesses job is simply to make her customers feel loved, wanted and cared for - even if only temporarily and insincerely, while extracting as much of their cash as possible by helping them consume vast quantities of expensive drink. Liaisons do occur, but they are far, far less common than the casual westerner might think. For one thing, the hostess wants her customer to come back, and that ain't easy if her more intimate favours are too easily granted.
There are several "host bars" catering for women - often hostesses and extremely rich older women spending their deceased husband's cash on youthful flatterers. Shocking!
As a wise man once noted, sleaze - real sleaze - isn't cheap. Don't venture into any club or bar you do not know in advance is gaijin-friendly... There is usually a table charge for simply sitting down and besides, you can't guarantee that the sleaze won't be ersatz... Don't be too anxious to yell discrimination if you ARE refused access to a place, it may well be that a Japanese person would not have attempted access without the appropriate introduction. You may also simply not look rich enough... Making a fuss is likely to get you, at best, a stiff lecture from the police about "democracy" (we kid you not). Our advice is simply to move on to somewhere more friendly.
Nakasu is nowhere near as mad, bad and dangerous to go as the 'entertainment" area of many other cities in Asia - and is a model of genteel decorum compared to Thailand, but things do go on there that blow the minds of old Asia hands, so beware...
Nakasu is pretty safe as long as you stick to the main street (for women). It is very much part of Fukuoka's culture, wander through it, but don't touch, is our advice.
Nakasu has a subway station, but is within easy walking distance of both Tenjin and Hakata station.
 Transport Network Map
First published Mon Sep 04, 2000 Updated Sun Jul 01, 2001 |
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