Columns Soapland

Akabane Soapland: Making the Switch

Elon, with 20-plus years in the fuzoku world, breaks down switching careers into Akabane soaplands from firsthand experience.

Akabane Soapland: Making the Switch

Let me cut to the chase: Akabane soapland, making the career switch.

I'll walk you through it step by step.

My experience and this topic

From my twenties into my forties, I've spent the whole stretch walking this world. And this particular topic is one I've had to face head-on, over and over.

Elon
ElonMy first time at a soapland (soapland — a bathhouse-style format that's the closest thing licensed fuzoku has to the full experience) in Yoshiwara was at twenty-five. That was back before I'd had the pearls put in. These days the reaction when I go in with the pearls is part of the fun. The conversation with a girl who asks "wait, what's this?" can be surprisingly enjoyable.

Points worth knowing

  • Nailing the basics comes first — advanced stuff only stands on top of a solid foundation
  • Stacking up real experience is your best teacher — you won't absorb it just by reading
  • Find a shop you can trust — to cut down on the time you waste deliberating
Elon
ElonI'm not trying to conquer every soapland in the country, but I've hit the "signature soaplands" in each region. My takeaway: "service quality and cleanliness aren't proportional." There are bargain shops with downright miraculous service.

The option I'm pushing right now

Elon
ElonForty-two, single, living alone. When nearly your entire paycheck disappears into fuzoku, you naturally develop an "eye" for the real thing. I'm not bragging and I'm not regretting — I'm just putting it down as fact.

Bottom line, I'd steer you toward a visit to First Class Ruby. The service quality, the ease of booking, and the overall level all stay reliably solid.