Japan's Club Scene: The famous "Rush Hour" Subway Club

[Guest053011]

I've been trying to find this place for YEARS, and someone actually found the website and sent it to me.

It's the stuff of legends!!

In Japan, women being fondled on the subway is actually an ongoing problem. A very unfortunate one. However, someone decided to create a safe way to act out a repressed fantasy.

The club is made to look EXACTLY like the inside of a subway. The whole room even shakes like a subway car. You can pass from one car to the next.

And the greatest appeal: Girls dressed up standing and sitting around, as though they were riding the subway. And these ones you CAN feel up:

http://www.rush-hour.co.jp/top.php

[Wwanderer]

This is an example of an "image club" or "image health club" ("imekura" in Japanese). There are loads and loads of them in Tokyo, each of the many mizu shobai (entertainment/nightlife/red-light districts) will have quite a few...up to a few dozen I'd guess. Each imekura caters to some specific, often very very specific, sexual fantasy and employs "hostesses" which allow the customers to act out the fantasy. BJs, usually BBBJs, are typically available from one's hostess for an additional fee after the fantasy play is completed.

It is generally, though not universally difficult for gaijin (foreigners) to gain entrance to an imekura, and really difficult if you don't speak at least a modicum of Japanese. In addition to the usual reasons (which are complicated but basically amount to prejudice against non-Japanese), imekura usually have lots of rules about what is and isn't allowed and a rough/general "script" which the customer is expected to follow. There is a concern that a customer with whom they cannot communicate will misunderstand the rules or the script, get upset in some way, cause a scene etc. Japanese culture is all about avoiding "scenes" or any other disturbance of the wa (haromony) of other people.

I am fairly sure that the "groping women on the train" imekura is not unique, i.e., there are a number of shops with that specialty...probably around one per imekura. But I have never been to one of them; it's not a fantasy that does much for me.

Most imekura involve the hostesses wearing some specific fantasy-related costume, almost invariably skimpy and revealing. The "groping women on the train" one is perhaps slightly unusual in that the women are dressed in ordinary "street clothes" rather than costumes...but still skimpy and revealing street clothes, I suppose.

I think that this particular form/specialty of imekura was made famous by some (English-language) novel a good while back (maybe 20 years). Lots of gaijin have heard of it, and many guys visiting Tokyo want to try it. But as far as I am aware, it is not considered particularly special, famous or unusual by the Japanese.

-Ww

[Guest083011]

But the guys on the subway really do assault women on the train. It truly violates them. It is one thing in club but in public without permission is creepy.

[Wwanderer]

Originally Posted by SR Only

But the guys on the subway really do assault women on the train. It truly violates them. It is one thing in club but in public without permission is creepy.

Worse than creepy I'd say...more like criminal behavior.

However, I am not sure of your point here. Many of the fantasies simulated by imekura "play" would be nasty indeed if carried out for real...all sorts of BDSM stuff, many sorts of domination (including rape), violence etc. The train groping is far from the worst. And so we conclude...what?

-Ww

[Guest053011]

Originally Posted by Wwanderer

Worse than creepy I'd say...more like criminal behavior.

However, I am not sure of your point here. Many of the fantasies simulated by imekura "play" would be nasty indeed if carried out for real...all sorts of BDSM stuff, many sorts of domination (including rape), violence etc. The train groping is far from the worst. And so we conclude...what?

-Ww

Ever so true. Adults often find safe consensual environments to act out fantasies that would be horrible acts of violence when forced upon someone.


Participating in fantasy play doesn't suggest those people would male a victim out of someone.

[Guest053011]

I realize I'd never get into an Imekura, and it makes me writhe with jealousy (thanks for the terminology enlightenment).

I have a good friend who is the son of his Father's second wife in China. Being the first boy he was adopted by the First Wife - a perfectly common practice in his generation. He gets access and attends these clubs with some frequency - I live vicariously through his tales.

This particular fantasy does nothing for me - it's more the set up that fascinates me - admittedly I'd give a finger to gain entrance to nearly any of them, as I'm deeply fascinated.

The fact that it's so common in Japanese society, nothing at all note worthy, is what I most adore.

As a whole the Japanese are very much about what is not said, their cultural structure subtle but rich with information. It reminds me of Isreal, to an untrained eye not much is happening when you walk through the streets. However, to a trained eye, there's a lot happening on a lot of levels.

Being a Harajuku girl (thank god for international shipping) and loving fantasy play, these clubs really make me salivate.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

This particular fantasy does nothing for me - it's more the set up that fascinates me - admittedly I'd give a finger to gain entrance to nearly any of them, as I'm deeply fascinated.

I don't think the Yakuza admit women.

[John Bull]

OK Lauren, I'll bite! What's a harajuku girl?

[Wwanderer]

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

I realize I'd never get into an Imekura, and it makes me writhe with jealousy (thanks for the terminology enlightenment).

I don't blame you. Although there are obviously far more serious inequities between the genders, I've long thought it terribly unfair that there is (almost) no commercial sex available to women...while men can have it in a huge variety of forms.

it's more the set up that fascinates me - admittedly I'd give a finger to gain entrance to nearly any of them, as I'm deeply fascinated.

The fact that it's so common in Japanese society, nothing at all note worthy, is what I most adore.

Right. I am pretty sure that there is no place on the planet that has a more extensive/elaborate, highly developed, sophisticated and diverse commercail sex scene than Japan, especially Tokyo. Imekura are only the tip of the iceberg, only one among numerous categories of Japanese sex shops. Those who have never seen a mizu shobai and are perhaps only familiar with the seedy honky-tonk red light districts common in most of the world can scarcely imagine what they are like.

The catch, unfortunately, is that it is mostly inaccessible to non-Japanese (gaijin)...although less so than it once was. But a foreign woman...hmmm, well nothing is impossible and I can imagine approaches, but definitely a VERY long shot.

As a whole the Japanese are very much about what is not said, their cultural structure subtle but rich with information.

OK, you know have my full attention. I meet people who have visited Japan frequently and know many who love it, but only a very few "get it" to any such depth as you describe above.

Being a Harajuku girl (thank god for international shipping) and loving fantasy play, these clubs really make me salivate.

Wow! Really? Are you joking? Please please please let us see a photo of you in some outrageous Harajuku girl get-up!

-Ww

[Wwanderer]

Those interested in knowing a bit more about the Tokyo commercial sex scene from a gaijin perspective might be interested in reading, perhaps even joining, this web site: http://www.tokyoadultguide.com/

It is fairly new (less than a year old and I found it only quite recently) and does not have a huge volume of material or a very large number of active members, but there is some worthwhile and/or entertaining stuff to be found there.

-Ww

[Guest053011]

Originally Posted by John Bull

OK Lauren, I'll bite! What's a harajuku girl?

Harajuku is a shopping district in Japan. Alternative fashion at it's finest, made for the fearless (in Japan you don't have to be fearless to do it, it's accepted). I particularly enjoy gothic and classic lolita. Though some stores exist in North America, and slowly more are showing up - the best and most affordable stuff comes out of Japan.

I've always been impressed by the gentlemen that aren't embarrassed to let me dress up in this style of clothes and AREN'T humiliated, but seem to have a blast joining me painting the town red.

It's now known as "Cosplay" short for Costume Play.

The idea is basically that you are your own canvas, and become your own Living Art - which is a concept born of their Geisha history.

Examples:
http://bluecsushi.com/blog/wp-conten...ajuku-pic3.jpg

http://www.japanforum.com/gallery/da...8-27-07-10.jpg

http://www.japanforum.com/gallery/da...um/catgirl.jpg

http://www.japanforum.com/gallery/da...-character.jpg


My personal obsession are the Lolita styles:

http://www.lolitafashion.org/images/classic10.jpg

http://www.lolitafashion.org/images/classic5.jpg

http://www.lolitafashion.org/images/sweet2.jpg

http://www.lolitafashion.org/images/aristocrat5.jpg

http://www.lolitafashion.org/images/wa6.jpg


I've often considered doing photoshoots in the outfits but figured it would probably be unwise. So instead I decided to paint myself.

[Guest053011]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

I don't think the Yakuza admit women.

I believe the act is not limited to Yakuza.

[Guest053011]

Originally Posted by Wwanderer

The catch, unfortunately, is that it is mostly inaccessible to non-Japanese (gaijin)...although less so than it once was. But a foreign woman...hmmm, well nothing is impossible and I can imagine approaches, but definitely a VERY long shot.

Maybe I'd raise my chances if I show up in a slutty gothic lolita outfit.

OK, you know have my full attention. I meet people who have visited Japan frequently and know many who love it, but only a very few "get it" to any such depth as you describe above.

I understand faith based living. As such I can understand philosophy based living. I know well that "they" are nothing like "us" (regardless which two cultures you are talking about) and they have their own unique logic system. Faith and philosophy based living infuses everything with meaning, and so every action is taken with forethought, because their actions speak volumes to other people in their community. North America does not have this coded unspoken constant communication, and so it's often hard for people to grasp.

How people stand in relation to each other is not an accident, how communication is approached, how relationships form. I also understand subservience, servitude as a choice, to show honour.

[Guest083011]

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

http://www.japanforum.com/gallery/da...um/catgirl.jpg

Well, Hello Kitty!!!

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

So instead I decided to paint myself.

You look delectable in paint.

[John Bull]

LS, why don't you try painting in cake frosting. MmmmmMmm