Creating Dreams - Osaka hosts

The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief

Number 2, Owner and Number 1

If you haven't seen The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief, but have an interest in the slightly odd facets of Japanese culture and nightlife I say it's high time you give it a look.

Official synopsis - The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief introduces an extraordinary hidden world of Japanese nightlife in Osaka's Cafe Rakkyo. The denizens of this glamorous demi-monde, dedicated to partying till they drop, are captured by first time documentary producer/director, Jake Clennell with candid and poignant insight. Presided over by the charismatic, enigmatic Issei, the number one "host boy" in town, the club offers a new twist on the ancient geisha tradition. Glamorous host boys make beautiful young women laugh, feel good about their lives -- and pay handsomely for their pleasure. In this secret, outcast society of wealthy young people, money seems to mean easy gratification. But all these stylish players have to pay for their pleasures, and they can cost more than money.

I had a decent idea what hosts are and what they do to make their living, but watching this documentary I feel I was able to understand the motivations of the hosts and their clients. It's hard to watch the hosts lie to get the girls to spend more money, it's hard to watch the girls fall in love with the hosts that can't return their love. But it's so quiet, insightful and honest that you can't help but be drawn into their world. So please check it out!

Cosplay Eikaiwa, Sign me up!

Imagine it, you are working your cushy teaching English in Japan job. But now imagine doing it while dressed up as Naruto, Haruhi, or Amuro Ray. Pretty sweet huh?

Well now you can really be doing it!
Tomohiro Suzuki is founder of the Akihabara located Cosplish, a cosplay eikaiwa. I can't imagine anything better for all those anime obsessed gaijin seeking a job. Not only can they live in Japan, now they can pretend to be their favorite anime chara. Maybe it sounds like I think this idea is ridiculous, but really I think it's delightful. They have every other sort of cosplay service in Akiba, so why not an english school? Otaku need to learn english too darn it! Cosplish is offering lessons like "practical" English, Otaku Eiken (geek English) and Moeng (cute english).


If you would like to read more, surf over to this Japan Times article.

I like steak, I like hamburg!

So whenever I happen to ask a Japanese male what his favorite food the answer often includes steak or hamburg, or both! I've never been a real big fan when it comes to red meat, so I just generally don't include it in my diet. But when living in Japan with a man who everytime you ask "What would you like to eat?" answers with an enthusiastic "Steak!" it becomes a bit difficult to avoid.

The only time I ever had real trouble was when we went to eat at Red Steak House in World Porters in Yokohama. They really truly only had steaks, the only non steak (or hamburg) item on their menu was curry. Now at that time I didn't acquire the taste for Japanese curry yet. Suffice to say, it became a bad evening.

Well besides that night, I did become more adventurous after awhile. Of course I had to try McDonalds, that's right McDonalds! Ooooo! The first time I tried Japanese McDonalds was in Kamakura. I had chicken McNuggets, which was a bad choice but I got all flustered when I reached the front of the line and had to decide quickly. You see they didn't have the full menu displayed above the counter, instead they chose to randomly post it over some seats in the middle of the dining room. And then when I got my nuggets Shouma dropped them all over the table. Another bad evening.

So next time when I finally got to see the full menu at McDonalds I was able to choose something we don't have in the US - the McPork! Yeah it's not a hamburger but - Oh glorious McPork, how I miss your salty sweet tangy flavor, and your tender texture! But seriously, the McPork rocks and I recommend highly. I also tried the teriyaki burger, which was good as well but, come on, the McPork is 100yen! Its nice because it doesn't come with mayo, unlike most everything else in Japan but I didn't know it the first time I ordered. So I told Shouma "I don't want mayo." he replies "Ok" but just stares at me for awhile and asks "So what do you want?" Apparently he didn't know the word Mayo, but he has this terrible habbit of just saying ok or yeah when he doesn't understand. So I got frustrated and walked away. Another ba- you see the pattern??

Anyway, I ate the McPork about 5 times! Another burger I tried was the Mos Burger of course! This is a burger chain that is native to Japan and therefore worth a try. Mos stands for Mountain Ocean Sun (I've heard Sky also), I'm not sure what its meant to mean (if it means anything at all) and they have a interesting menu. Check out an English translation of their menu. I only ate there once, which in retrospect is regrettable, and I had the regular Mos Buger. It was a good burger, not great, but pretty messy to eat. Its really nice that they serve you on real plates and glasses, and the interior is pleasant as well. Next time I want to try a rice burger.

I had one other burger, which was apparently a famous burger in Japan, but I forget its name. Shouma's father and step-mom brought it back from a trip to Kawasaki. Well it was a burger with cheese, bacon, egg and mayo on it! I whiped off the mayo but I'm afraid to think about how many calories were in that....

Japan FAQ

Well honestly I was in a bit of a bad mood when I came up with this post, but I really want to post it as it amuses me so. Basically these are some questions that come up quite frequently on forums about Japan and sometimes I think they are just so silly. So please enjoy them, and know I am not trying to tease anyone, it's just some fun.

Q: "I am _____ inches/cm tall, will I stand out in Japan?"
A: Are you Japanese? No? Then you are going to stand out in Japan.

Q: "I really like _____ (Tacky&Tsubasa, Gackt, anime characters, etc) so I want a Japanese boyfriend."
A: Um, just like real men in America don't look like Brad Pitt, real men in Japan don't look like celebrities either (and they certainly don't look/act like anime chara). Closest you can get is a host I guess. Good luck with that.

Q: I'm ____ (white, black, latina, etc) will Japanese boys like me?
A: Do any guys like you? But seriously, most Japanese men will be curious enough to casually date you or have sex with you. However if you want a serious relationship it will be tougher, and if you have your heart set on Japanese you might have to lower your expections.

Q: Are people going to stare at me if I go to a Sento?
A: Look, yeah. Stare, hopefully not.

Q: I am visiting a Japanese person's house, should I bring something along?
A: Chocolate, alchohol, flowers.

Q: I am (13-15) years old and I love anime/manga, now I want to live in Japan, how can I?
A: Well it's true Japan is the best place to get your anime goods (although I really didn't see them that often) but if thats why you want to live in Japan.... research a bit more first.

Q: I want to live in Japan, it's the coolest place on earth!
A: That's a rather unrealistic view, now isn't is.