Glass High heel

(Oita Godo Newspaper, June 1^th 2010, Evening paper, Page 10)

Glass High heel

Standing at 150 cm, having straight hairs till shoulder length, Ayasa is a cabaret club girl, and this winter she will turn 18. "I wanted to try working in a cabaret club, let's try it out!"

She was enticed by her classmate, high school students have to hide that they work in the cabaret club. At closing time, middle age guys will nominate her, saying " I am so happy! I too can do it!"

3 years ago, Ayasa's parents experienced an economic situation, which caused her to drop out from University, her congenial friends in the shop comforted her, and it is the closeness that makes her want to continue working in the cabaret club.

Working 3 to 4 times a week, working at night allows her to have a income of 100,000 per month. Going to Karaoke with friends, traveling, these expenditures would add up to a majority of her income. But working as a cabaret club girl is a job that requires you to cheat, she said.

"I could not compliment the man, even if they say I like you, but I could not say I like to them, but I could not show that it is a pseudo-relationship. The customers would then demand <interesting talk but it's a pub>."

Recently, a customer whom she had not met for a long time called on her. Saying that things had change, the aura and brightness was not present anymore.

During her university, she aimed to go overseas for an exchange program, she said that that was what she wanted after she did self analysis. This story pierces my chest.

Sometimes I do not have the courage to go to work.

During mid march, in the prefecture organized graduation party, wearing a green one piece dress which wrap around her, revealing her figure. Her classmates, who will become salary man in spring, even though she cannot receive the graduation certificate, she would like to graduate, having this thought, she attended the party.

Comments

I feel that Ayasa lead a life full of hardship, and in Japan it is not uncommon that some of the people are not better off than other people. I can fully understand the hardship that Ayasa is going through.

But I felt that the money that Ayasa made should not be spent on Karaoke or trips with friends, she should spend more time to study or improve herself.

I am a poor student for now, and I don't mind to study every day, I don't even take trips or go to karaoke, just because I do not have the spending power to do so, and I am fully aware about the high expenses that my parents are paying, for me to be in Japan studying.

I felt that Ayasa could be a better person, I am not saying that working in a cabaret club is a shameful or dirty job, I am just saying that she could use her knowledge that she learnt in school to better use. Maybe it's a bit extreme but I guess it is one view point.

Tay Zhong Jie Edwin

Singapore

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM 4