**I spent some time shopping this article around a few years back, but it seemed to not want to be published. A few magazines were biting, but they wanted it edited too much. I’d rather keep the juicy bits and have it see some light here. Here’s part 1 of 3:

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Memoirs of a (Male) Geisha: The Unusual Story of an American Working in a Japanese Host Club

I mean, why wouldn’t women pay money to be with me? I give them everything they want and need; physical and mental gratification… and enough unpredictability to keep them interested until their money’s gone.

– Jules, American, Male Host in Minami Osaka club

Jules has a soft spot for expensive designer clothes.

The first time I meet him, he is wearing an $800 bright white Burberry jacket, a blue and yellow silk Gucci scarf, and $900 black loafers. These are all – including the $1200 Hermes wallet sticking out his back pants pocket — gifts from his customers and girlfriends.

We walk together to Osaka JR train station and sit down at a French-style café.

“I hear you’re pretty good with women.” I offer to start the conversation.

“I consider myself to be very good with women.” He says, completely deadpan and without a hint of self-consciousness.

Jules is at least 6 feet tall and tanned, though not classically good looking in the western sense. He has a slightly large nose and very average facial features. His highlighted hair is set straight down over his left ear. He brushes it back with one hand as he takes a drag off his cigarette with the other. He is sitting with his legs crossed, and I notice that his gestures come off as a bit feminine. Even as I’m wondering, why in the world women would pay money to talk with this guy, I become aware that there is something about him. Charisma? I wonder. No, that’s not it. It’s more like… Glamour. Jules has a glamour about him. Like a movie star. Or Ziggy Stardust maybe.

Just another day at work…

As a Host, your job is to sell THE DREAM: sell YOURSELF, SEX, and FREEDOM.

-Jules

Jules works as a male host at a Japanese Host Club – a classy lounge where women pay good money to sit and have drinks with handsome and charming young Japanese men. Unlike his co-workers, and 99% of the other hosts in Osaka, Jules is a foreigner – an American.

A typical work day for Jules involves waking up at midnight (hosts are notoriously nocturnal), heading to the club, and having a few drinks with his co-workers before work – “to reduce tension,” he says. The host club Jules works at is open from 5am to 2pm, to cater to the club ‘after party’ crowds and night workers of Minami (south) Osaka. Other clubs are open in the evening, or from midnight, depending on their target customer base. According to Jules, “Some girls will finish work at midnight, then go to one host club, then another, and then ours. (Other) girls finish (work) at 6am, and they come to our club, because it’s one of the only ones open. They’re already drunk by the time they get to our club, so they want to spend a lot of money.” He flashes a sly smile.

In a host club, women pay an hourly charge for a seat (in Jules’ bar about $25/hour) and pay for all the drinks that her — and her male host – drink, the least expensive being about $12 for a simple cocktail. When a customer who is new to the club arrives, she rotates through the hosts, spending about ten minutes sitting and talking with each — kind of like speed dating. She then nominates her favorite host, who then receives commission based on all the money she will ever spend at that club. Once a customer chooses her host, it is almost impossible for her to change it, until her chosen host retires or changes clubs. This is to prevent infighting and conflict among the hosts.

Jules makes a base pay of $75 a day, plus a 55% commission on seating charges ($25 to $100/hour) and alcohol. This makes for some outrageous bills, if you consider the club’s markup on the alcohol. “Our cheapest bottle is $220. You can buy that same bottle at any convenience store for $12.” Jules says.

I tentatively ask him about his usual monthly pay.

“Besides having girls take me out to dinner, and having zero living costs?” he says, with a cocky grin. “Probably about 6Gs (per month), easy. The most I’ve ever made is 10Gs. I mean, I’m not paying for living or whatever.”

I ask him if the host club is paying for the apartment.

“No, the girls are.” He says.

“The girls are paying… So then you’re living with the girls?”

“No.”

He explains to me what’s called Jikabiki – accepting private money or gifts from his customers, outside of work.

“And pretty much all the hosts do that?” I ask.

“Well, no…” He pauses to think. “But all the good ones do” he says and laughs.

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I’ll post part 2 soon if people are interested…  Comment below, please.