Issue of “sukebe-isu’
Oil prices squeezing soaplands, staff
July 9, 2008 : The Tokyo Reporter….The evening tabloid newspaper Nikkan Gendai (July 9) reports that customers were informed that the cost rise was due to the soaring price of heavy oil, which is used for the boilers. In a typical month, such bathhouses, which are euphemistically referred to as “soaplands,” consume about 300,000 yen worth of oil….
… costs have recently risen sharply, including sukebe-isu (literally “lecher chairs,” specially configured bathing stools), massage creams, bathing implements, air mattresses and other paraphernalia used on the premises. ...more...
I have to laugh at Japan has problems the English doesn’t even have words for… such as sukebe-isu —lecher chairs, as well as energy concerns for their sex industry.
Over the years I’ve seen estimates that the sex industry in Japan made up at least 12% of the GNP. That was probably an underestimate in the “Bubble Years” before 1992. Now because of Japan’s rapidly aging society, the industry is going limp so to speak.
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