Pretending to be a prospective customer, I asked some questions. ``I can't help but think of the scary image consumer finance firms have,'' I said. ``You wouldn't threaten me by demanding that I sell my kidney, would you?''

``Of course not,'' the woman replied. ``Our company is listed on the first section of the stock market. We would never do anything so disgraceful. We would inform you, of course, if you were late with your repayments. As some people simply forget what they owe, we would just let you know. We wouldn't visit your home unless your repayments were long overdue.''

A Tokyo Metropolitan Government ordinance outlawing public nuisances has been used with devastating effect on Kabukicho and its due to be toughened up again in December. Those with most to fear from the changes are the streetside touts Kabukicho is famous for..."The prime targets are the guys who lure young women off the streets and into host clubs, where they are encouraged to rack up huge bar bills and pay them off by working in the sex business," the hack tells Asahi Geino.

A boom in stock investing among working women has led a number of women to create Web sites and publish guides targeted at this growing market. Analysts say the trend reflects growing individual awareness of the need to protect savings and also earn a return, amid increasing pressure on companies to downsize.

...The number of Web sites specializing in stock investing targeted at women is growing. KabuVenus (www. kabu.com/Venus), run by online brokerage kabu.com Securities Co., is seen as the trend leader. The site is edited by young female employees of the securities house. "It's an investment Web site of women by women for women," Chief Editor Mayumi Urakabe, 27, said. The site offers an introduction to useful terms in stock investing and essays written by the editors, in addition to unusual weekly investment approaches based on horoscopes.

...Stock trader Fumie Wakabayashi is the author of a book titled, "Kabu ga Suki" (I Like Stocks), which has case studies of individual investors, including one who earned 10 million yen from one issue. She believes young women are good stock investors. "Young women who are sensitive to trends and fashion have an advantage in finding good issues faster than others. Women who are talented in spotting potential boyfriends are equally good at finding the right stocks," she said.