Life is a Cabaret, Old Chum

[Captain Japan]

This story is really damn good...

Life is a Cabaret, Old Chum
Asahi

After five decades in the business "Cabaret Taro" has a reputation. He's the sort of boss who cares for people. Especially if those people happen to be women with a past.

"There's nothing more beautiful to me than women," says the 75-year-old. "And they are more attractive when they've had some suffering in their past."...more...

[cstaylor]

The part about cabaret's roots coming from post-war Japan is bunk. They're just a modern adaptation on the teahouses of Gion.

[Greji]

The part about cabaret's roots coming from post-war Japan is bunk. They're just a modern adaptation on the teahouses of Gion.

If you talking about sex maybe there were some similarities. But the real Cabarets that existed in the post war period up to the seventies and generally disappeared in the eighties, were a post war novelty and I might add a good one at that. Some of them operated 24/7 with no holidays and had as many as 1,000 hostesses. It was not uncommon to find one with 2-300 hostesses and 50-100 present for the night.

They were large night clubs with Los Vegas style reviews and all the style Japan of that era could provide. They bear no resemblance to the Kabakuras or clubs of today, nor anything that was ever in Gion. They were a unique part of that era and it was a shame for us chauvanists that the woman of J-land began to out grow that in their affluence. The ranking of girls (now even hosts) as number one, based on sales or number of shime clientel, reduced prices by being a shime for a girl in a club, etc., are all things that originated in that cabaret system. They were the prime beginning for the entertainment expense accounts for fledgling businessmen, before they were able, or even allowed to advance into the depths of the private club and geiko world of business entertainment. A lot of Fgs came and left Japan with out ever going to a real cabaret. You never usually went alone and you were almost always taken by a Japanese. Some of the big ones were even included on the Hato bus evening in Tokyo tours (just for the show), but if you showed up at the door by yourself and were without a shime to vouch you in, it was tough luck they were always "manseki".

[cstaylor]

GBoothe, thanks for the correction.

[Captain Japan]

GB, so why do you figure the cabarets disappeared in the 1980s?

[Taro Toporific]

....so why do you figure the cabarets disappeared in the 1980s?

Why did burlesque disappear?

Expensive to produce---competing entertainment---musical style passe'---no longer "trendy."


Think about: In the Real World it's not exactly hip to go to nightclub and watch a floor show to relax after work.

[AssKissinger]

Fukutomi insists his respect outweighs all that. Women are Japan's greatest cultural asset and they rescued the country long ago, he says.

Damn skippy.

[Greji]

GB, so why do you figure the cabarets disappeared in the 1980s?

Actually, they started disappearing before that and I think there were a lot of reasons. The biggest was the lack of quality hostesses, as the education available to and obtained by post-war J-girls increased allowing them to obtain otherwise non-avialable jobs, which were also increasing on par with the economy, the good quality hostesses disappeared overnight. Hookers have and will continue to be around, but the intelligent, hometown type, nice girl imaged hostesses were disappearing like flies and the OLs and Government girls moonlighting, couldn't keep the pace. So the big money private clubs got bigger and bigger as the qauality of available girls to the cabarets decreased.

Another reason was the advent of the so-called chain store styled cabarets. The Hawaii chain was one of the biggest. These were locally owned franchises and soon became over run by the fellas with a short count on fingers. The bills, which were always expected to be a bit pricey in good cabarets, started getting padded and the customers started getting really skinned, so although the real drunks like yours truly, knew the difference between the gyp joints and the real thing, all cabarets started feeling crunch that was result of the image that was being portrayed by these chinpira joints and the businessmen rapidly began steering away from these places with their customers.

Plus once the yaks got involved in the local run chains, it became difficult to set up business entertainment relationships with the mise, shime's and the like. The yaks only wanted the money, so anytime they got a girl that was recognizably good as a shime, they would move her to another mise as a mama (or girlfriend), because in their sekai they badly need people who could handle money and business. But this would end up by costing them most of their steady customers over the long run.

Incidentally, the deal about the shime was once you had one, you would schedule your businessgroup through her. She would see to you and your customers when you visited and you would leave the bill with her. She would pay it at a reduced rate and usually less the normal tax. Then you would pay her later and she would provide you with a receipt for the cost that you would have paid the cabaret if you paid on the night you attended. This way, she of course got credit for a big business account and you got some extra back from the office when you filed your expense account. Everyone in the companies all the way up to the President had done this on their way up, so no one would question any payments made this way with legitimate customers of the firm.

Most of these shime type relationships were asexual (I said most) and purely business. You would provide the shime with mid-year, new year and birthday presents and she would do the same for you. Occasional dates for dinner after closing big deals was also keeping within customs. Breechloading a shime was not out of the question, but usually not practiced as again, both people were fullfilling business requirements of the time.

The low-level yaks and the shoddy chain cabarets tainted the whole system, and was another thing that ran people from the cabarets and help lead to their disappearance.

[Mulboyne]

Was the New Latin Quarter ever classed as a cabaret or was it always seen as a nightclub? It seemed to be a big venue for overseas stars to perform but then you hear about Rikidozan being stabbed there so it doesn't sound like the Blue Note.

[Greji]

Was the New Latin Quarter ever classed as a cabaret or was it always seen as a nightclub? It seemed to be a big venue for overseas stars to perform but then you hear about Rikidozan being stabbed there so it doesn't sound like the Blue Note.

It was operated as a cabaret, but its proximity to the old Sanno Hotel, at that time a US Army Officer's Club, allowed for use as a night club type of operation. It was owned by a Japanese born Korean at one time. It of course passed into the memory when its building, the Hotel New Japan burnt. That was a great fire that got blamed on an FG smoking in bed, but still the shacho, Yokoi, I think it was, was convicted for fire code violations in a court case that carried on for a couple of hundred years.

Rikidozan was of course a Korean, who at one time, among other establishments, opened the Empire Cabaret in Shibuya off Aoyama dori, which was one of the grand cabarets. You would have been home there Mulboyne, it was where the elite would meet.

[AssKissinger]

Rikidozan

gboothe, I think this thread was before you came onto FG if you're interested

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10001&highlight=rikidozen

[Captain Japan]

GB, great stuff. Thanks. Have you ever been to the cabaret from the article? Why do you figure this guy has been ableto hang on for so long? Senju is a bit remote. Maybe the rent is cheaper. But the customers can't be too well off.

[Taro Toporific]

Why do you figure this guy has been ableto hang on for so long? Senju is a bit remote. Maybe the rent is cheaper. But the customers can't be too well off.

Brother-in-law Taro lives in Kita-senju and says this plays offers "value" for money spent and the only convenient venue in the area for serious business entertainment.

By-the-way...Brother-in-law Taro needs a roommate for his 3-LDK since he only stays in his place for 5 days a month. The price is right and the apartment has all the toys, computers, broadband, TVs, porn, etc. If you are a good gaijin with simple or better Japanese skills, contact me via PM or tarofoon[atty-marque]gmail.com.

[Mulboyne]

...It of course passed into the memory when its building, the Hotel New Japan burnt. That was a great fire that got blamed on an FG smoking in bed, but still the shacho, Yokoi, I think it was, was convicted for fire code violations in a court case that carried on for a couple of hundred years...

The Stars and Stripes has some old archive photographs and stories of the fire.

A pre-dawn fire Monday raged through the top two floors of a major Tokyo hotel where a group of South Korean conventioneers were staying, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 33, fire officials said....The president of the hotel, Hideki Yokoi, said the hotel began installing a sprinkler system two years ago but the work was not completed because the hotel was losing money. He said sprinklers were to have been installed in all rooms within a year.

The burnt-out shell of that hotel was there for ages before Chiyoda Life was able to sell it. I suppose the bursting of the bubble didn't speed things along. I can't remember if it was sold before or after AIG took over Chiyoda, though.

Didn't Rikidozan also run a jazz club somewhere? It's interesting how racy Akasaka used to be whereas FGs know it mainly now for TBS and a few hotels. Most recent Tokyo-based yakuza films are set in Shinjuku but it was fairly common to have them set in Akasaka before. I remember people being surprised when the strip club Seventh Heaven opened a branch near Akasaka Mitsuke station because it didn't seem to fit with the area. I think they used the former location for the club Mugen but I don't have a good idea where some of these old places were. I shouldn't think the Golden Akasaka building is still there.

Akasaka was something of a graveyard for businesses a few years ago; Akebono and Italian chef Carmine both had restaurants in the same building near all the Korean clubs and both failed. I think things have changed a little since Tameike Sanno station opened and all the office buildings went up.

[Greji]

Didn't Rikidozan also run a jazz club somewhere?.

He had his name involved with a lot of clubs, cabarets and other types of business. His backers, from sumo, the Korean community (mindan) provided him with back all through his good days and then paid him to use his name at the end.

It's interesting how racy Akasaka used to be whereas FGs know it mainly now for TBS and a few hotels..

It was Akasaka to Shimbashi to Yurakucho as the backdoor of the Ginza!
Roppongi is a mere step-child of recent years!

The Mikado, Mugens, Manos's Russian Restaurant/bar (Charlie and Pete Manos) who would make some of the so called early Tokyo underground duck for cover. Numerous clubs, cabarets and all. Big cars, cigars and jaguars! Dewi came out of one of thos clubs to become the daiyon fujin.

Roppongi was initially limited to the area around the kosaten. Rumor has it was that it became famous because of the Almond shop. Again rumor has it that Almond was allegedly named for Ned Almond who was the Chief of Staff to the Macarthur shogunate and the actual man on the ground for the Inchon Landing during the Korean bang bang.

Be that true or not, all the action was in Akasaka. The side streets from Akasaka Mitsuke eki all the way to Tamaeki were wall to wall bars all supported by an excellent number of hookers.

the club Mugen but I don't have a good idea where some of these old places were..

hehehe

[quote]Akasaka was something of a graveyard for businesses a few years ago]

Chad's restaurant was on B1 in one of the old bar rows. However, he had a good initial clientel, but it didn't continue and most of the reason was he was never there when fans and friends were coming to see him as part of the evening. A little visit now and then would have kept the crowd around. It was close to a convenient eki, run by a popular sumoka that served good food. with a little TLC it should have flown. Ate there a group and it was all right. Hated to see it go under.

[Mulboyne]

Corky Alexander wrote this in his review of Tokyo Underworld

I asked Bob how in the hell he could write a book about Tokyo of that era and not mention Charlie Manos, Johnny Wetzstein of Hamburger Inn fame, CIA pilot-soldier of fortune-publican Wally Gayda, Steve Parker--the movers and shakers who made Tokyo click. On a variety of levels. Bob told me that each of these guys deserves his own book.

I also went to Akebono's place (I'm afraid I don't know him well enough to call him Chad) and it was fine. The location was a little sleazy with a fair sprinkling of Chinese and Korean prostitutes working the streets. That's apparently the reason Carmine gave for closing. He was on the ground floor of the same building but I think he was gone before Akebono arrived.

I hadn't heard that he wasn't showing his face which seems pretty stupid. I can't see Bob Sapp making that kind of mistake in his business dealings. I did hear that the restaurant lost a very good front-of-house manager who knew how to manage a celebrity guest list. When he left, the celebs couldn't guarantee the tables and discretion so if the main attraction wasn't showing up either then that it's no surprise it isn't there anymore.

[Captain Japan]

Didn't Rikidozan also run a jazz club somewhere?

This bit below has been taken from a Web page that I remember stumbling across a few years ago. Good stuff.
[quote]His night club, Club Riki, was a jazz club that brought in many great jazz acts, both Japanese and American. My friends and I hung out at Club Riki. This is where I had my first sloe gin fizz with "Covert" Carl, "Red" and "The Voice." We more often went to Japanese rock clubs, but since we were music lovers of all kinds of music, we often went to Club Riki, which had the best jazz in Tokyo. We were always served whatever alcohol we could afford. And even Riki himself would hang out with us when he was there]

[Greji]

This bit below has been taken from a Web page that I remember stumbling across a few years ago. Good stuff.

Riki in the end, actually owned very little and In the beginning a lot of what did haveh is name may well havef be owned by his backers as so often the case with a lot of those type of spots celebs. It's a bit of a shame, but that happens to those types a lot. Sometime, if you're nice Capt'n, I'll introduce you to Riki's niece who is a tall striking knock out with a set of bazooms that attest to her part-Korean heritage. But, that's only if you're nice, which as you know, my definition of being nice is generally denoted by the appropriate amount of pints you're willing to stand.

[Captain Japan]

The Stars and Stripes has some old archive photographs and stories of the fire.

Here's a shot of the Destroyer in front of the hotel (though I'm just trusting the caption):

[Captain Japan]

Sometime, if you're nice Capt'n, I'll introduce you to Riki's niece who is a tall striking knock out with a set of bazooms that attest to her part-Korean heritage. But, that's only if you're nice, which as you know, my definition of being nice is generally denoted by the appropriate amount of pints you're willing to stand.

Why don't you just twist my rubber arm?

[Greji]

Here's a shot of the Destroyer in front of the hotel (though I'm just trusting the caption):

I can't tell Capt'n. But to be honest, it doesn't look like it from that angle. As you faced the building the whole left side had a covered awning walkway that led into the New Latin Quarter, that actually had its entrance on the side of the building that was accessed by a set of stairs. It was kind of like one of those Hollywood red carpet enteranceways of yesteryear. I think there was also a Chuka or Yakiniku Restaurant on that side. The center and right side of the building was the Hotel New Japan proper.

Again, I don't recall the final set, but the initial J-news reporting said that the fire was started by an FG who was obviously drunk and had fell asleep smoking in bed.

Not that this was suspicious, but it did seem like the first announcement of this was about 30 seconds after the fire broke out. But, you know them FG's are. However, in the long run, blaming it on a dead FG didn't help the management anyway, because besides no, or non-functioning sprinkler systems, I believe they had locked and blocked fire escapes (to keep the hookers out, or maybe in), and other numerous problems. But it was an interesting topic for a while.

The New Japan was about 30 seconds from the old Sanno Hotel and in front of the old Hilton/Tokyu Hotel on Sotoboridori maybe 400 meters up from Akasakamitsuke eki just beyond Sanno Jinja on the corner. That entire area is now the Dokomo Building complex.

[joforrest]

I'm interested in Wally Gayda's Golden Gate club in the Ginza circa early Fifties. Does anyone know what it looked like inside and out?