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In many ways, Japan is a drinker’s paradise. Japanese society is extremely accepting of alcohol consumption, to the point where you can enjoy adult beverages not just at bars and cafes, but even many fast food restaurants. Then there are the all-you-can-drink deals, some of which are amazingly cheap.
There is one very big possible downside to knocking back a few cold ones in Japan, though. As we’ve talked about before, in entertainment districts you’ll often find kyakuhiki (“customer-pullers”) working the streets, trying to steer customers into the bars or izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) that employ them. While pushy, many of these kyakuhiki are on the up-and-up and work for respectable restaurants. Some of them, though, are out to pull you into shady establishments that will slap hidden fees and service charges onto your tab, leaving you with an astronomical bill for a couple of drinks and snacks.
To help spot these scam artists, Japanese Twitter user @arinotsuno has created a list of things to be on the lookout for.
The typical modus operandi of the unsavory kyakuhiki is to attract suckers with promises of discounts at a reputable chain, then somehow divert them to his bosses’ place to get ripped off instead. To protect yourself from this bait-and-switch, the first thing @arinotsuno says you should be on the lookout for is how the guy is dressed. Japanese businesses love uniforms, so if a kyakuhiki dressed in street clothes claims to be a representative of a major chain, he’s a fake.
As for how the scam goes down, @arinotsuno says there are two primary points of attack. In one of the, kyakuhiki approaching people who’re simply walking down the street, cordially asking if you’re looking for an izakaya and promising discounts for one popular chain or another. If you show an interest, he’ll enthusiastically offer to check to see if there’s a table available, whipping out a cell phone or tablet ostensibly for that purpose.
Really, @arinotsuno says, these electronic devices are just props the kyakuhiki is using to help sell his act. He’s not really contacting the restaurant he said he would, and after a few seconds he’ll regretfully tell you ”Sorry, the restaurant is full. But there’s another place with different owners that I can get you into right away.” Getting you into this other restaurant, of course, was his intention from the start.
Alternatively, some scam artist kyakuhiki wait to strike until you’re about to enter one of the multi-floor buildings packed with various bars and restaurants that are commonly found in Japanese cities. As you’re about to go into the lobby area or hop on the elevator, the kyakuhiki will appear, saying “Oh, are you going to eat here? I’m in charge of the restaurants in this building.” Right off the bat, this is fishy, since the restaurants in the building are competitors, and thus don’t share kyakuhiki employees.
When you tell him which specific restaurant you’re headed for, he’ll put on a show of feigned thoughtfulness, telling you “Actually, that whole restaurant is rented out for a group function tonight. Oh, but I can get you a seat at a restaurant with different ownership…”
So in summary, the biggest warning flags to look for are guys in regular clothes claiming to be working for a chain, kyakuhiki and, more critically, kyakuhiki whose story has them working for multiple restaurants with different owners. Give them both wide berth, and you’ll be a lot closer to a hangover being your biggest potential regret after a night out in Japan.
Source: Twitter/@arinotsuno via Jin
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© SoraNews24
39 Comments
kawabegawa198
Not rocket science. If you find yourself in Roppongi, being accosted by a black gentleman, then you're in for a scam.
Luddite
The simple solution is to ignore these people and make your own decisions.
PerformingMonkey
I ignore people I have no interest in communicating with, period.
Toasted Heretic
Ah, I see. So it was the kebab sellers the other day but now we're down to specifics.
A black person in Roppongi is automatically dodgy. Even if they are there for a business meeting or just asking for directions.
Noted. With a heavy sigh of despair.
kawabegawa198
Pretty much without exception.
Toasted Heretic
Businessmen, tourists, residents, doctors, dentists, sales reps, servicemen, your work colleagues, friends and so on.
All dodgy.
Have a word with yourself, laddie.
clamenza
More melodrama from the usual suspect. I think anyone who's been in Japan for 5 minutes knows what kawabegawa is talking about. Africans are there to scam you. Period.
If you are in Rome, are you going to leave your personal belongings unattended in front of a Gypsy just to avoid looking racist?
Try that and see where PC insanity gets you and your camera.
Toasted Heretic
So, it's not just Muslims and British people but black people and gypsies who terrify you.
Good to know.
Funny how the most racist people in Japan tend to be the gaijins. Gives the rest of them a bad name.
Yes, so insanely PC to have an issue when you label an entire people as scammers.
clamenza
Ok. Put your money where your mouth is.
I double dare you to head to Roppongi this weekend and let a Nigerian tout take you to his bar.
Deal?
Toasted Heretic
I was in Roppongi last week, so maybe later.
As for touts; I don't go to bars that have barkers or touts. Japanese, Nigerian or any other nationality.
But I don't see anything PC about questioning the er, logic that all black men in Roppongi are wrong 'uns.
Would you actually say that to your black colleagues or friends?
DiscoJ_2
Yeah, just be careful of the Africans, but let's not worry about the Japanese 'bar barkers' that the original tweet and the article are actually about. I mean what Africans do you see trying to pull customers into 'major chains'. How about some on-topic comments?
https://twitter.com/arinotsuno/status/882314234519891968
clamenza
But why not!? They look like good fun, don't they?
Oh dear. I think you have just negated your argument.
clamenza
Yeah you can retrieve my posts if you want to. But then you would also expose the lies I've caught you in so you won't do it.
Cowardly.
It would also expose your Islamic extremist sympathies and hatred of the clearly dominant Western culture than raised such an unhappy, violent person as yourself.
It must really suck to hate the just, tolerant culture that gave you the freedom to hate so much...
I truly feel sorry for you!
Toasted Heretic
Hmm. Posts are being edited and/or deleted here.
My argument is that black people should not be singled out for dodginess in Roppongi. It would be just as stupid to say all white people there are dodgy. And just as ignorant.
To go to a tout bar, in any country, shows a lack of general awareness. No matter who is doing the touting.
Try harder.
albaleo
@Toasted,
It's not worth the argument. You know you're right and I know you're right. But it's kind of amusing that white people in Japan are often the targets of African touts. They probably know their market.
Anyway, the simplest approach is to be suckered once. Once bitten, twice shy, etc. It's an experience and a lesson. I look back on my lesson with fondness.
clamenza
Albaleo - so much wrong with that post I'm not sure where to start..
I had no idea that those stupid, slow, unwitting white people who make up a fraction of 1% of the Japanese population were often the victims...of Nigerian touts!
....then you admit that YOU were victimized by....a Nigerian tout! (But look back on it with fondness for some reason)
all this in a post that was to presumably defend the honour of....Nigerian touts!
Strangerland
Ahh, so you've shifted the goal posts from 'black people' to 'Nigerian touts'.
clamenza
Go back and look at my posts. I never once said "black people"
oh dear...
Strangerland
Ahh, I see, I didn't realize you lacked the capacity to follow the conversation you joined in on, which started with this:
I was trying to fault you for being sneaky, when in fact you were just lacking intelligence. My bad.
Strangerland
Heh, I notice that when called out on the fact that you didn't know what you were talking about, you just switched to trying to be condescending. I guess that was your only course of action to salvage your pride.
It's ok, half the world is below average intelligence. You're in good company.
Strangerland
Tripling down even! The rage is strong in this one.
Toasted Heretic
Jeez. This is sick.
What is wrong with you?
Strangerland
He always goes a little nutty when people point out where he is wrong, or point out things he previously said that he doesn't like being pointed out.
I suspect he's oppressed in his life, and attempting to troll on JT is his stress release. In real life he's the one made to feel bad, so he comes here and tries to make others feel like he does daily.
Toasted Heretic
I suspect alcohol may be involved. The violent, confused angry stuff seems to come out especially at night. Perhaps one jar too many?
Tbf; he put his foot right in it with "Africans are there to scam you. Period." He knew that the moment he posted and the rest was just obfuscations, surreal accusations of Islamic extremism and bizarre threats about interpol! Shame they were deleted; if only for the comedy value.
Every city has areas like Roppongi and if you're naive; you might be scammed. I guess that would make anyone incandescent with rage but one can't go around blaming an entire people.
clamenza
Nigerian touts just happen to be black. I hate Japanese and White touts just as much.
But we're talking about Roppongi, not Dubai or Bangkok or New York City.
just more race-baiting, perpetually triggered children here doing what they do.
gotta talk to them on their own level
Toasted Heretic
My friend; with the best will in the world - get some help before the hatred consumes you.
Toasted Heretic
Hmmm. Narrative has changed a wee bit since you claimed:
Strangerland
He's on a furious backpedal.
clamenza
Hasn't changed a bit. The subject is Africans (in this case Nigerians) in Roppongi.
but it's so much easier to change the narrative where I'm a Seig-Heil saluting white supremacist to fit your extremely narrow world view isn't it.
you seriously need to talk to a counsellor about your struggles. I beg you.
Strangerland
No, the conversation was about black people. You're just trying to backpedal so you look less racist.
Toasted Heretic
So much of his gibberish ends up being deleted he probably reckons he can say anything and nobody will remember.
Anyway; train wreck of a thread. Expect the Mod will tidy it up or close responses.
FizzBit
Typical
clamenza
Agreed. Sad when an interesting thread gets hi-jacked by the same 2 lunatics scouring the internet for something to be offended by
Strangerland
Yeah! How dare people call out racism and bigotry online. This is supposed to be a place where bigotry and racism are allowable without protest!
Black Sabbath
Not hard to spot 'em. When you're not drunk.