ABSTRACT
The role played by the hostess in Japanese society is not new, but rather is a more modern version of yesterday’s geisha. Hostesses occupy a low social position in a manner similar to that of previous geisha; however, differences exist in the types of women entering the professions and their social milieu, as well as their roles vis-a-vis their employers and customers. Many hostesses take one- or two-week vacations several times a year, while others stay away from the bar one or two nights per week whenever they like; this type of irregular working schedule is not condoned by employers in other jobs. The hostesses in first-class Ginza bars form the top of the hostess hierarchy, with those in the Akasaka and Shinjuku areas ranking second and third. Hostesses at first-class Ginza bars tend more often to have the responsibility of collecting money for bills, visiting the offices of their customers for this purpose in many cases.
