Japan: Just a Gigolo-san

Westerners have never quite understood geishas — those well-schooled, delicate wisps of femininity clad in elegant kimonos who coo sweetly over tired Japanese businessmen on the town for a night. Naturally, the men always leave their wives at home; unnaturally, they rarely get to go home with the girls. Baffling as that is, consider the newest addition to Japanese culture: the male geisha.

Two night spots, Club Tokyo and Night Tokyo, now cater to an all-female clientele with well-scrubbed young hosts in dark suits who are available for cosy chats and dancing...

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