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"Those kind of clients rarely come anymore," he says wistfully.
The fortunes of Ginza, a ritzy shopping and entertainment district in the Japanese 4capital that's home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, rise and fall with those of the economy.
"Especially since the start of the year, business in Ginza has been bad. When the economy slumps, there are fewer clients," says Matsui, the 69-year-old manager of the Pont des Arts bar, which has about three dozen hostesses.
"When it's good, Ginza prospers, because company employees come to wine and dine. When the economy worsens, companies forbid them to do that," says Matsui.
Outside women in long flowing dresses stand shivering on street corners, handing out flyers offering drinks and expensive chit-chat to male passers-by. In the good times they would be inside engaged in flirtatious conversation.
Chauffeur-driven sedans deposit corporate high-flyers outside bars with bright neon lights and exotic names such as The Bunny Club, Penthouse and Club Plaisir. These days, though, there's less competition for parking spaces.
At the Pont des Arts bar, 32-year-old club hostess Ayano Ito is getting ready for another night's work helping her customers forget their problems, for a few hours at least.
"People come for different reasons: to heal their sadness, to release stress. They come here because they want to be listened to," says Ito, dressed in an elegant kimono, her hair coiffured after a daily trip to the stylist.
Times had been getting better in recent years as Japan's economy enjoyed its longest economic recovery since World War II.
There was even a boom in host clubs where, in a role reversal, well-groomed men entertain women for the evening.
Then came the credit crunch. At first it seemed like mainly a Western problem. The same Japanese banks that had once been criticised for being too timid were suddenly being lauded for escaping the worst of the subprime crisis.
But the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September last year sent shockwaves through Tokyo's financial district and things have only gotten worse since then. Banks starting laying off workers and now even once-mighty Japanese companies such as Toyota and Sony are bracing for big losses this year.
Firms are scrambling to reduce their spending, making it harder to claim an evening's entertainment as expenses. With stock markets in the doldrums, rich individuals are also feeling the pinch.
The hostess industry is no stranger to tough times. During the 1990s recession many bars went to the wall, but the fear is that this time it may be even worse.
"When the bubble burst, business was certainly bad, but that was Japan's problem," Matsui says.
"Other countries like the US and China were still growing so it wasn't as serious as it is today. Today it is a global problem and no country is spared."
For young Japanese women, becoming a hostess has traditionally been a lucrative career that can earn them several thousand dollars every month. Many young foreign women are also drawn by the lure of money and glamour.
"I was attracted to the glamorous world and lifestyle, as well as the opportunity to meet people I wouldn't normally," says Ito, who moved to Tokyo three years ago from central Japan to try to live her dream.
But, just like Japan's famous geisha, times are changing for the hostess industry, particularly the upscale establishments which face competition from cheaper clubs and other types of entertainment.
"There are fewer places where you pay a high price for the company of a sophisticated lady," says Matsui. "The way of having fun has changed. Although they won't disappear, the number will decrease."
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Image of Ayano Ito, a Ginza hostess standing in front of the "Pont Des Arts" bar, by Toshifumi Kitamura.
The fortunes of Ginza, a ritzy shopping and entertainment district in the Japanese 4capital that's home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, rise and fall with those of the economy.
"Especially since the start of the year, business in Ginza has been bad. When the economy slumps, there are fewer clients," says Matsui, the 69-year-old manager of the Pont des Arts bar, which has about three dozen hostesses.
"When it's good, Ginza prospers, because company employees come to wine and dine. When the economy worsens, companies forbid them to do that," says Matsui.
Outside women in long flowing dresses stand shivering on street corners, handing out flyers offering drinks and expensive chit-chat to male passers-by. In the good times they would be inside engaged in flirtatious conversation.
Chauffeur-driven sedans deposit corporate high-flyers outside bars with bright neon lights and exotic names such as The Bunny Club, Penthouse and Club Plaisir. These days, though, there's less competition for parking spaces.
At the Pont des Arts bar, 32-year-old club hostess Ayano Ito is getting ready for another night's work helping her customers forget their problems, for a few hours at least.
"People come for different reasons: to heal their sadness, to release stress. They come here because they want to be listened to," says Ito, dressed in an elegant kimono, her hair coiffured after a daily trip to the stylist.
Times had been getting better in recent years as Japan's economy enjoyed its longest economic recovery since World War II.
There was even a boom in host clubs where, in a role reversal, well-groomed men entertain women for the evening.
Then came the credit crunch. At first it seemed like mainly a Western problem. The same Japanese banks that had once been criticised for being too timid were suddenly being lauded for escaping the worst of the subprime crisis.
But the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September last year sent shockwaves through Tokyo's financial district and things have only gotten worse since then. Banks starting laying off workers and now even once-mighty Japanese companies such as Toyota and Sony are bracing for big losses this year.
Firms are scrambling to reduce their spending, making it harder to claim an evening's entertainment as expenses. With stock markets in the doldrums, rich individuals are also feeling the pinch.
The hostess industry is no stranger to tough times. During the 1990s recession many bars went to the wall, but the fear is that this time it may be even worse.
"When the bubble burst, business was certainly bad, but that was Japan's problem," Matsui says.
"Other countries like the US and China were still growing so it wasn't as serious as it is today. Today it is a global problem and no country is spared."
For young Japanese women, becoming a hostess has traditionally been a lucrative career that can earn them several thousand dollars every month. Many young foreign women are also drawn by the lure of money and glamour.
"I was attracted to the glamorous world and lifestyle, as well as the opportunity to meet people I wouldn't normally," says Ito, who moved to Tokyo three years ago from central Japan to try to live her dream.
But, just like Japan's famous geisha, times are changing for the hostess industry, particularly the upscale establishments which face competition from cheaper clubs and other types of entertainment.
"There are fewer places where you pay a high price for the company of a sophisticated lady," says Matsui. "The way of having fun has changed. Although they won't disappear, the number will decrease."
--------------------------------------
Image of Ayano Ito, a Ginza hostess standing in front of the "Pont Des Arts" bar, by Toshifumi Kitamura.
