S&S - Is Roppongi’s diversity a dangerous mix?

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes


Is Roppongi’s diversity a dangerous mix?

By Teri Weaver and Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes

Pacific edition, Friday, March 27, 2009

Photos by Teri Weaver/Stars and Stripes
Flower markets stay open late in Roppongi, in part to supply late-night hostess clubs.

Roppongi is a neighborhood in central Tokyo filled with diverse entertainment offerings. During the day, visitors can see world-famous art and eat at top-rated restaurants. At night, workers from dance and strip clubs take over the sidewalks, barking at passers-by in an attempt to lure them inside.

See photo gallery

TOKYO — Visitors to Roppongi can eat in Michelin-rated restaurants, kick the tires of European sports cars and window-shop for couture clothing.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Or, a few doors down, they can buy sex toys, watch women strip around poles, or purchase drinks — and a variety of other services — from hostesses at gentlemen’s clubs into the early morning hours."

"In some instances, the club scene can include drugging and theft, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and some military officials in Japan.

On March 13, the embassy released a security notice to its staff and to military personnel in Japan, warning them to avoid certain clubs in the Roppongi neighborhood. Some Americans, the notice said, reported their drinks were spiked and their credit cards were overcharged."

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"The embassy’s notice shocked some club owners, especially those named as the alleged scenes of the crimes."

re: "More Women Turning to Pole Dancing to Make Ends Meet"

Nixon at LT Nixon Rants ("Looking for truth and starting controversy since 1980!") reminds us there are always unintended consequences.

Money quote(s):

"One positive unintended consequence of this economic catastrophe is that "gentleman's clubs" are seeing an in-flux of babes looking to work the pole."

"While the cash flow is certainly a vast improvement over slinging chicken fingers to fatso families at TGI Friday's, this AP article does not take into account the lady's new spending on the requisite cocaine addiction that often comes with being an exotic dancer."

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"What other business (besides a casino) can a guy walk in and spend hundreds of dollars in a matter of hours on lap dances in the VIP room because he erroneously thinks "I bet she really likes me, man!". Most male readers of this blog should be able to relate with some level of empathy."