Yoshiwara Soapland: The Pay

Today I'm writing on the theme of "Yoshiwara soapland, the pay." (Soapland is a bath-based licensed adult-entertainment format.)

I'll explain it mixing my own firsthand experience — 20-plus years in fuzoku, Japan's licensed adult-entertainment business — with what I've learned from digging around.

The basics

Let me lay out the basics you should know about this area.

ElonHaving surveyed the nightlife scenes all over the world, my conclusion is that "a nightlife culture rooted in the local culture is the richest." In that sense I think Japan's fuzoku is the best in the world. Not blind favoritism — a verdict reached by comparison.

Watch this industry long enough and you'll find the same topic gets judged completely differently from "the customer's side" and "the girl's side."

What I can say from firsthand experience

I'll talk based on what I've actually been through.

ElonThe first time I went to a soapland in Yoshiwara I was 25 — back before I'd had the pearls put in. These days, the reaction when I go in with the pearls is one of the little pleasures. The conversation with a girl who asks "what is this?" turns out to be surprisingly fun.

I believe firsthand experience beats theory. In this business especially, "reps" matter more than "knowledge."

Wrap-up and my verdict

ElonI don't aim to conquer every soapland in the country, but I've been through the "signature soaplands" in each region at least once. My conclusion: "service quality and cleanliness aren't proportional." Even a budget place can have godlike service.

The place I keep coming back to is First Class Ruby. The reason it shows up over and over on this site is simple — it's a shop I'm a repeat customer at. Take it as a reference.