Pink Box: Inside Japan’s Sex Clubs

Y’know, a few years ago one of my friends taught English in Japanese schools. The only thing I thought to ask him about were the Love Hotels — hotels where amorous couples could rent a nice room for a few hours for a rendezvous without feeling skeezy about it. It’s just as well that’s all I asked about; if I’d I known more about the Japanese Sex Industry back then, I think I would’ve made the poor guy blush scarlet.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, but are curious to know more, you really oughta check out Pink Box: Inside Japan’s Sex Clubs, written and photographed by a western woman who managed to talk her way behind the “Japanese Only!” signs on the doors and photograph what goes on in this uniquely Japanese phenomenon. The clubs presented here start with Host and Hostess clubs where attractive men and women trained in conversation provide flirtatious companionship for the patrons (think modern-day geishas), but quickly move on to more interesting fare. There are clubs where men are bathed by attractive women in fantasy outfits (harem girls, nascar girls) before they’re massaged and given oral sex. Other places have little cards where men can mark exactly what they want and how (for example, the questionnaire asks what position you’d like to be in while you get your butt-hole licked!). There are even places with fantasy settings, from classrooms to “business class” airplane seats to “pervert trains” that are nearly as crowded as the infamous Japanese subway itself, but where men can grope to their heart’s content. They claim that westerners aren’t allowed in because they just don’t understand (and are too big “down there” — their critique, not ours!), but I read this book really wishing there was something like this in the states, or at least San Francisco! Yes, the girls (and guys) are hot, and often naked, but what kept me poring over the pages was a combination of delight and wonder at a culture where you’re able to order up your specific sexual fantasy. Pink Box is definitely worth a peek! Recommended!