High School Host Club - and a Comparison with Modern Host Clubs
For those unfamiliar with Japan's unique service industry, the existence of "host clubs" might have been introduced through manga. Ouran High School Host Club is one such manga based around the theme of host clubs. Although popular internationally, we will explore the differences and similarities between the fictional host club in the manga and real host clubs.
Ouran High School Host Club" was serialized in the Japanese magazine "LaLa" from 2002 to 2010. It gained popularity worldwide, being published in 18 countries. The manga was adapted into an anime, with international releases featuring dubbed versions. It also became a game in Japan, and there was a live-action drama and movie adaptation.
The plot of Ouran high school Host club: Haruhi Fujioka, a female first-year student at the prestigious Ouran High School attended by elite families, accidentally breaks an expensive vase and incurs a massive debt. To repay it, Haruhi becomes the errand person for the host club, a club that entertains female students. Due to Haruhi's androgynous appearance, the club decides to make Haruhi cross-dress as a host, with the condition that the debt will be forgiven if Haruhi fulfills a certain quota of customer requests.
Host Image
In the context of a school setting, the host club is described as consisting of "beautiful boys with too much time, entertaining idle female students." However, in reality, host clubs involve adult men, regardless of educational background, entertaining female customers with jokes and conversation. Recent issues have arisen due to exorbitant charges, and the aristocratic social gathering image depicted in the manga may not accurately represent the current state of host clubs.
System Differences and Similarities:
The host club in the manga operates on a system of "Free service fees, nomination fees, and complimentary food and drink," combined with a "point system where customers receive preferential treatment based on the amount spent in online auctions."
While the actual host clubs do charge for services, the concept of preferential treatment based on expenditure is common in both the manga and real host clubs."
Host Club Members and Real Hosts:
"The beautiful boys in the host club have various personalities.
Tamaki has a typical boy's manga hero type personality, and Kyoya has a cool personality.
"There are other characters with cool, aggressive, cute, and cunning traits. These characteristics align with the diversity of personalities found in actual host clubs, as hosts aim to differentiate themselves based on their unique qualities so you can recognize these differences in characteristics by talking to them.
Why not actually go to a host club and check it out for yourself?
Appearance
Building on the previous discussion, the level of customer service and attitude can vary among hosts. Now, turning to the aspect of physical appearance, how do modern hosts compare?
In contrast to the hosts depicted in "Ouran High School Host Club" from 2002 to 2010, contemporary hosts are often referred to as "neo-hosts" and embody entirely different aesthetic standards. While the hosts of the past favored suits and spiky hairstyles, today's hosts lean towards a cleaner look reminiscent of Japanese or Korean idols. Their more neutral and beautiful appearance might draw some parallels with the characters in the manga. It wouldn't be surprising to encounter individuals in the present day who evoke the qualities of characters like Tamaki and Kyoya.
We hope this comparison sheds light on the fictional portrayal of host clubs in "Ouran High School Host Club"" and the realities of contemporary host clubs. Fans of the manga may find it intriguing to explore an actual host club and witness firsthand the dynamics of this unique service industry.
Looking into modern host clubs
We will introduce real Youtube content that you can use to learn about host clubs!
These days, in Japan, Kabukicho's “Host Clubs” have branched out into literature and manga, turned into TV shows etc. There is no shortage of topics to talk about.
A host club is a club where men entertain women and serve them alcohol.
Host clubs themselves have been recognized as night work for men in Japan since before the advent of the internet, but it wasn't until the common use of social media such as YouTube that the general public became able to see what they actually were like.
Youtube channels related to host clubs have a variety of content, from those run by host club management companies/stores to documentaries closely focused on hosts from various companies.
