yappari

koshitsu video

This is a Japanese word whose kanji can be broken down the following way:


ko personal; private.


shitsu room.


The Koshitsu video is kind of a video store found in urban areas throughout Japan where one can rent pornographic videos, and watch them on the premises.

Upon entering the koshitsu video store, there is often a rack of non-pornographic videos blocking the view of the rest of the store from the doorway. Once past the initial facade, you will find a number of rows of videos broken down into categories. The patron selects the desired video, takes it to the counter and parts with his cash, usually about 1500 yen for a new release with a discount on the second or third selection. There is no need for a membership card as the whole process is designed to be annonymous. There is a partition from face level down to about five inches off the counter, so that the staff member cannot see your face. In front of the counter there is a mind boggling array of aides, from lubricants, to the famous used schoolgirl panties, down to what could only be described as the male equivilent of a vibrator, (only I don't think that they vibrate.) The panties are 2500 yen and come with a photo of the alleged original owner, in case you were wondering.

Once you have made your selection and have paid, you are given a small carry basket with your tapes, headphones, roomkey and some wetwipes. There is a map on the door showing the layout of the place. Inside the room, (which can be doubly locked from inside) you will find a leather reclining chair, a state of the art TV and VCR player along with a couple of boxes of tissues. You are allowed to stay for the total length of all the videos that you have rented.

On my number of visits at various times during the day (in the name of research of course), I noticed the different types of customers. During the early afternoon, there seem to be a lot of salesmen who appeared to be slouching off. The early evenings were full of salarymen ducking in for a quick one before they go home to their wife and kids. Late at night there were a lot of otaku, probably because you can get 12 videos from 9pm to 4am for 4000yen.

Most important piece of advice:
Bring a towel to place on the leather chair.

posted by Jpop @ 7:31 AM