Inside Tokyo’s host clubs and the interplay between self-realization and self-destruction 

For being 15 minutes, this video is really impactful

When he was describing disneyworld fantasy I was not expecting to see Mickey actually there 💀

I have lived in Japan for 11 years now and this culture has always fascinated me, it is such a gray area of society. Something Japanese people acknowledge yet never talk about, it is something that many foreigners are very curious about. It is expensive to go to a host club (even with first time discounts sometimes!) however, for some people it doesn't matter because the offer of companionship is worth it. I can understand this, it can get quite isolating especially when you don't exactly fit in, feel comfortable with yourself, or just want to find a little piece of love. There are many kind of hosts, some like this one running away and trying to make a life, while others chase the luxury lifestyle in hopes they'll hit it big. But Hosts also work under a time limit because as they get older, it can get harder to compete. Not everyone gets to be Roland. I wonder... what do hosts do after they "retire?" If we could get a documentary about that, it would be interesting. Is there a group that helps these people transition to other jobs?

I know this is off topic. But the cinematography on this video is amazing

This video just melted me.... I wish he finds peace in his lifetime.

I didn't think a 15 min video could break my heart in so many ways...and that Disneyland allegory was just ouch.

The guy's English is actually pretty good, man

This is a sad story,very well presented and told though. I can't imagine the pains both the hosts and their clients go through mentally and my question in the end is to what gain eventually? Especially as the main character tells us,it's mostly all an illusion. Very sad .

What a story. Would love another few hours of this!

Why the low views?? This video is amazing! Well done, how it’s shot, the topic, the twists.. more if this please!

He must be in so much pain…

This is genuinely one of the most powerful videos I've ever watched. Well done.

I just wanna give him a hug and tell him he is doing great, he’s been through to much

His English is good compared to those I've met at Kabukicho. I can't put myself in his shoes but somehow understand his sorrow, wish him a happy life!

this has more twists than a m knight shyamalan movie. I’m in awe. how do you even find a subject like this?

The cut, a pause, the purely black frame and just the narrator's voice. Well captured.

What an interesting person. And what a sad story, especially towards the end. I hope he finds peace and closure about how experiences. I'm a trans man, and currently navigating the relationship with my mom, who prefers to ignore that aspect of me. So that unexpectedly resonated a lot as well. Hope he's doing better a year later. Hang in there!

his story made me cry :( i just wish he is better now

It's sad that most of the clients are prostitutes. But I guess they just want the connection without the stress of a real relationship. And because of their jobs they aren't judged as much by the hosts. Really great short documentary I wish it was longer

Such an interesting story. I would love to hear more from this guy

heart wrenching stuff...

Glad this vid came across. Thank you for sharing. Great docu. His English is very good! Haven't seen from this perspective b4. Glad he has a good life with gf❤. It is a hard life especially if your mom is not accepting you for who you are. ❤ There is a famous case where a manager of a hostess bar in love with a host and wanted all to herself and stabbed him. Glad he survived. He didn't want her to get the punishment which is so generous of him.

Such a sad world, God save them.

an unusual, strange but very well told story, film

absolutely amazing DP work. the effort in the production is inspiring. thank you for making this ;_;

This was enlightening. Heart wrenching…this situation reminds me of a group of desolate hearts yearning for genuine love and enriching and fulfilling human connections.

Great video much like an older doco I watched while living in Japan in 2008. "Great Happiness Space: tales of an Osaka Love Thief".

We need more such content from him. Ive been to Japan many times, and it’s sad to see so many lonely ppl in such a big city His English is amazingly good…perhaps he had a good start when he was young? I think he studied overseas as well

,,hartverscheurend,, ik hoop voor hem dat hij veel geluk mag hebben in zijn toekomst 💞

Thank you for sharing this. Hope hope is in the end of this

This is so heartbreaking 😭

This is so well documented

"Our job is to sell happiness to the girls."

Searched host clubs expecting explanations and how hosts are bad. Was not expecting this

this should get more views

This story was deeply impactful, really sad hearing his backstory of being kicked out for being trans and then working as host. But hearing that hosts are like mickey mouse selling a fake love fantasy to many clients who also have adult industry work was very direct, i appreciate this

I like the editing and video itself is very good...

The Great Happiness Space, 2006 documentary explores this topic in more detail

Brilliant vid

Amazing

This was amazing!

too short for such a great video

日本独特の文化。浮世絵を英語にするとfloating world。これが日本のイメージであり、幽界のようなイメージ。

Nice video

So so so sad

Was not expecting that plot twist😮

A heartbreaker for sure

this was so interesting to watch and it was so suprising for me that he is a transgender i wish him all the best he sounds super nice and his english is prettyy good

no fucking way, in 5:01 you see a host as number 1, he's one of my japanese friend kae san, we actually met while playing apex, dude is a chill dude with good income. If the host club shown in this video is ACQUA then that's 100% him. He told me that he's a host and he's very popular in the club, if he doesn't goes to the club he start to stream all day apex and valorant in twitch.

where is his social? i want to follow him and support him!

We all have to live the best life we can, who are we to judge!!

Beautifully told story but why end it so upruptly?

Damn. This was so sad. I wonder how he is now.

what lens was used for this?

Poor guy :(

This is so sad :(

Who is that guy's name? I really hope that he can find his happiness with his only one true love 😢

i have so many thoughts about this documentary…

i hope he finds the confidence to stop talking to people who don't accept him for who he is, even his mother. chosen family can support him where she refuses

I feel sad for him. I hope he will find happinnes in life.

i did not see that twist coming at all.

The liver must be incredibly tired

It breaks my heart that his family isn't supportive just because he's trans. I hope one day his family can try to understand him and accept him for who he is because life is short and they threw away their son over his gender identity.

que vida tan triste de estos jovenes Dios mio

Incredibly sad

Dystopia

Do the girls and his girlfriends know that he's transgender? He didn't address this at all. It's also extremely heart breaking that his family kicked him out because he's transgender.

Pray for them

I had no idea kabukicho was bad. It’s like Newport Beach compared to America lol

Sorry life like this drinking spending end up wasting and bad health also mental health. Very depress after number of years.

i had no clue hosts even existed, wtf

Very interesting video. Didn’t know the clientele were mostly prostitutes. I’m an American living in New York City, and my new roommate happens to be a hostess. She comes home in the early morning hours and sometimes gets sick from drinking too much sake. It’s sad that because she’s a student here from Japan, and this is the only kind of job she could get.

so sad

Oh man. Can they drink zero alcohol? The issue is when alcohol is part of the job then it can be a slippery slope

❤

This job looks good but do the wrong ideas. As this guy good heart, not just money, night life is change the mental health principles and moral of life, is twisted everything.😢

How is money made in the red light district as a host.

sad farking world we live in.

Relationships based solely on the exchange of money are hell.

The major problem with this host/hotess business is that its the CLIENTS that create this massive social issue. If the clients invested their money in creating their OWN business (start up/freelance, etc) with their own talents and abilities, they would invest in THEMSELVES instead of basically donating their cash to a host/hotess. It's just another form of drug since their self-worth is so low, they pay another person to give them FALSE feelings. Just so they can feel alive. I can't believe this type of business is even legal actually. It shouldn't!!

Drinking everyday for two years alcohol dependency First safe place to get off the alcohol and trans therapy now He’s in trouble and my ❤❤❤❤ is breaking

Sorry but can someone tell me if his eyes are altered in some way?

There's a lack of workers in Japan but education is expensive, pays are low and working environment is harsh so lots of young people end up wasting their life on this crap instead. So sad.

I really like animes but the culture of Japan in the relationships are so fucked up.

this is so cruel from a mother. I love my daughters but if they feel as a man, I would never put a pain on them just to feel good while they are in suffer. No, you must not change for anybody! ❤

Why are people sad for him? He made his life choices! Nobody forced him into this line of work and he could have prevented many things that happened to him, for real.

Aki your beautiful. Don't be an host.work like an modeling. Your are to good to be an host. Cutie. 🙏😳🤗🤗🤗💖💖💖💖

Who is he? Name?

report all you want about Tokyo’s host club. it wont change anything.

John 3:19

Mmm he's to young and drinking heavy is not healthy for a young entertainer, is it fine to refuse alcohol,i think these guys working in a club is the real anime in real life,the way they carry themselves,lots of money,partying,lots of girls I think japanese host is one of safest work too, unlike in other countries, its dangerous like here in the Philippines,they cannotbwalk safe theybwill rob or kill a host because he's rich

John 3:16

So sad. The girls/women are street-walkers longing for real-Love, and they pay young men to flirt w them? [Is there no self-help or religious group to help them escape??]

his ex girlfriend dies by suicide 4 months ago and he gets a new girlfriend 3 months later, alright lmao

This is very Blade Runner. I don't really understand what these hosts do and why the women pay them a lot.

Those girls aren't old or ugly. Why do they prefer to spend their money on hosts?

"I don't want a real job"

I admire the women that tried to make the hosts happy, they gave their trust, emotions, money, and life. They always lose but Jesus will welcome them in heaven.

Why I don’t feel sorry do none of them ! 🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s called choices. Japan is a well educated country they have the opportunity to choose good jobs and is not like those very poor country where people as no choices and must do what they can to survive. And the girls taking their lives because of this guys ?! I don’t feel sorry for them either ! Even I have huge sympathy for the high suicidal rates in Japan but taking your life because of those guys ?! Nope ! A 🌰 less condensing the earth weight.

Japan need God. Seriously 🥲