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Pole dancing

97 Comments

Women practice pole dancing at a fitness club in Osaka.

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97 Comments
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Awesome, it's nice to see this workout fad making its way across the Pacific!

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Regulation footwear being worn, I see. No concerns about damage to the floor, I guess.

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rjd jr workout fad? ah...! as in strip joints?

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say hello to "osakatom"!

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Speechless. Just speechless (but happy).

Taka

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The one in black has a nice leg. Too bad that I can't see the other leg.

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hahahahahahaha, if they only knew how demeaning this practice actually is.

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Where can I get into a class like this??

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I might go watch some of this 'exercise'

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pizzaboy: I know the teacher of a very popular pole dancing group in Tokyo. She has over 500 students. More are bashing down the door. Do you actually think the students are blissfully unaware of what they are doing? How you see it is of no concern to them. Really good pole dancers are hyper-fit and very strong.

Don't confuse strippers with pole-dancers. Or strippers pretending to be pole-dancers.

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A lot of core strength is definitely needed. For some reason slutty shoes seem to be a requirement as well though...

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Yea, Yea... Anomaly. I am sure you are confused since the pole-ACROBATS you speak of do not wear 5inch heels on stage. No what you are looking at is pure unadultorated, American born stripper pole showcase dancing. And they are doing this for fitness and self esteem. Of course women want the excitment of showing off their sexy bods without the stripper (slut) label. I say go girls..

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Wait, I see an opportunity for Nike and Adidas! pole-dance boots. I say go girls too... Another beer waiter!

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Guys, before passing out in delight, please notice that this is a very dangerous sport. If the woman with the head down falls, she will cause severe brain damage to herself (if she has what to damage, of course).

The worst picture on Jt so far. :(

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The worst picture on Jt so far. :(

Surely the best picture on JT so far. And I'm going left. Camo shorts baby !

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Not to mention spilling my beer...

~(8(I)

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After the "hooping revolution" are we having the "poling revolution" now? JT is relly very dedicated to the women's fitness programs! I wonder which one to choose now...JT shall say which is best for the body.

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Rotate this photo 180 degrees and camo girl looks really fit.

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Unagidon, Are you watching the picture from any possible angle?!?!? Is this picture worth it?!?!?! You guys amaze me.

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Yes, ExPrincess, and I'm thinking about it from a few impossible angles too.

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I think they should have men's pole dancing. I bet that would turn on the princess.

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I wonder if JT will publish the such a picture, Sarge. Anyway, I rate the today's picture 0 on the scale of 0 to 100.

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Lool! My girlfriend has been bugging me for ages to install a chrome pole in our living room. Now how the hell am I supposed to explain that to my landlord, visiting friends, or my parents who will come next month..

If it gets her a fit as the girls on the picture, I'll consider it though.

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The upside-down girl certainly seems to be defying gravity! That aspect alone rate today's picture at least a 5 on a scale of 0 to 100, no?

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Zolt, Who cares about your land lord or explaining it to your parents? Look at the bragging rights you would earn with your male friends! There are no sacrifices too great to be able to tell your friends, "Yeah, you'll have to excuse me, I have to go home and check on my girlfriend. She's pole dancing at our house. I need to be there to help her with her technique and so that she can shine the pole afterwards." I'm telling you, you will rock star status among your male friends and co-workers for YEARS over this. Get you to the pole store NOW!!!!

Taka

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fabulous!

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I think there are much better ways to keep in shape.

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Can we have the same picture, but with Ebi-chan please?

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I think there are much better ways to keep in shape.

Sure, there can only be one No. 1 exercise. No one can argue with you there. Are you saying there is no value in this exercise? I say it's important to hit the abs from a variety of angles. This is certainly a unique exercise working not only the abs but the inner thighs.

Congratulations to the photographer.

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I have never considered high leather boots as gym worthy until this moment

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Can we have the same picture, but with Ebi-chan please?

You want the picture with one of those McD shrimp burgers?

Seriously though, the young lady in the back has the right idea. PVC boots are nice, but Pole Dancing calls for clear hooker-heels.

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It's all fun exercise until someone cracks a skull.

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Kid rock has a pole in his house

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I prefer smoked pole dancing

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Damn, just damn!

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I bet the girl hanging upside-down could kick the other girl's butt.

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anyone have change for a 5000yen :)

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So that 'members club' in Roppo that I frequent 5 times a week is kosher. I am actually attending a fitness club.

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The suntan girl in the camo shorts is real Osaka baby.

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There are quite a few of these "exercise" joints around in Tokyo. There is one below where I go for a hair cut in Akasaka and they also have belly dancing - me thinks I would be a bit better at that ;-)

If it gets tehm out the house exercising then fantasic - never quite sure why this one works but it does!

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Can we have the same picture, but with Ebi-chan please? my vote goes for kelly chen, she doesn't even need to change from her previous picture!

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According to Wikipedia, if they can be believed, pole dancing is now regarded as a recognized form of exercise and can be used as both an aerobic and anaerobic workout.

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that's quality.

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All good to me, keeps them in shape...all for it. Heard its pretty rough to get a handle on....

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its so ridiculous. I cant help but laugh.

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zolt, make the pole look like a clothes hanger or hang plants on them when not in use

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"hang plants on them when not in use"

Har!

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Some times I just wish I was the Pole!!!!!!!!

(looks for wife over his shoulder)

Damn I just love them exercise clothes they wear...

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"You can do side bends or sit-ups, but please don't lose that butt..."

I don't see any body here, just two malnourished girls.

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fantastic country this is

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I don't see any body here, just two malnourished girls.

Camo shorts ain't malnourished buddy.

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Those girls don't look malnourished to me and pole dancing been on the news as the new ad for some time now.

Maybe some posters here prefer their girls on the plumber side aka 200 pounds plus. Myself prefer them slim with perky breasts but don't tell the missus. ;)

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af = fad

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"two malnourished girls"

Apparently some people prefer whales ha ha ha!

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Camo suntan shorts has got those chubby arms. Nice.

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Pole dancing for London 2012!

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"Pole dancing for London 2012"

Heck, there's still time to squeeze it in for Beijing 2008!

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Osaka girls camo shorts pole dancing for the Olympics (sounds good doesn't it).

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Heck, pole dancing beats the heck out of baseball ha ha ha

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Absolutely inappropriate picture. It is still here since the morning? I am shocked and ashamed....

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ExPrinceska at 06:50 PM JST - 31st July Absolutely inappropriate picture. It is still here since the morning? I am shocked and ashamed....

You must be joking? Please tell me tat you are joking ExPrinceska......

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I am shocked and ashamed = I am jealous.

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yes I am joking :) But I find the picture still a little offensive to women.

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Ok :)......I can understand that.....LOL

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Pizzaboy, jealous of what?

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IMO, it is a good and tough workout, seen a feature on a school some time ago(weeks to months) on japanese TV so not all that new.

If it works for the ladies just as valid as Yoga, Hawaian Dance, whatever is out there.

Whatever floats your boat and gets you fit.

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Is it true that Japanews women are world champions in the sport pole dancing?

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My point being I DON'T care if you are lady or a bloke. If I need to grab you at point X to correct a pose I will. Neither do I care if the pose I stop you in flashes some breast, whatever for me or anyone else.

Same as any good sports instructor

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Zen Builder, I see.Anyway, I wonder what kind of women will go to learn pole dancing for fitness when there are other programs like dancing, yoga etc.

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ExPrinceska.

Can't answer that one it seems to be a fad right now. Fun thing I did "music gymnastics" as a youth got known as "aerobics" later on.

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Princessk is right ! Pole dancing is degrading and humiliating... unless done in total seclusion ! I somehow doubt any of these ladies out there would be so interested if they had to do this "alone" and without the voyuers they are obviously wanting to attract ! More passive aggressive behaviour by Japanese, err, the "shy" Japanese I mean !

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We had this moronic fad for a brief spell here in the UK - some woman even tried to start classes for kids at a local school spouting the usual drivel about female empowerment and boosting confidence - by pretending to be sex-industry workers.....

You want to get fit then go for a run or do some sit-ups. I ainn't a prude but this is a ridiculous idea when you stop and think.

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Whether it's 'degrading and humiliating' is up to the person doing it, I'd think...why is it 'offensive to women'? These women have chosen it as a way to exercise, I don't know why others have to be offended by it.

This fad started in the US, by the way. Hadn't you seen it online at all?

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I don't see the problem with this activity. It is not as if the women in question are forced into a life of 'dancing/exercising on poles'. I've read that people once that Elvis' hip twitching was offensive, too.

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Hey, there's no credit given for this photo. Who took it?

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Himajin:

"This fad started in the US, by the way."

huh ??? Try this on fer size... from wikipedia:

"Pole dancing is a form of dancing/gymnastics. It involves dancing sensually with a vertical pole and is often used in strip clubs and gentlemen's clubs, although more recently artistic pole dancing (Chinese poles) is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment."

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Whether it's 'degrading and humiliating' is up to the person doing it, I'd think...why is it 'offensive to women'? These women have chosen it as a way to exercise, I don't know why others have to be offended by it.

I didn't say it was "degrading, humiliating or offensive". I said it was moronic and ridiculous watching women play at being sex-industry workers.

I also said it was inappropriate for kids barely into their teens to be encouraged to play at being sex-industry workers too.

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westurn, I dont mean any disrespect, but I do not see the connection to Hima-whatever's point and your quote from Wikipedia. Didnt they say "more recently" ? Pole dancing classes have been around in the States since the late eighties.

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JT, what are you gonna expect us to say about the picture???

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i would like to slide around on a greasy pole too but unfortunately my tackle gets in the way. and besides, hairy bum cracks aren't as fashionable these days

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rom,

Can't work out whether you are serious or joking. You love it man. We all love it.

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@for all the neo yuppie activists out there

remember people. like it or not women have the choice if they want to do this or not.

No one is forcing them.

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I'd love to join her. It looks fun. like twister on a pole. I think more japanese women should take this up for... practice.

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Funny how they call it pole dancing???? This is taking something from the strip world and packaging it as a fitness/dance class to make money. There are places like this in Nevada however, they call it learning how to strip. I know this girl that got married in Las Vegas and her friends and her did a class for her bachelorete party.

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What fitness club in Osaka is this? I'm considering a membership. :-D

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Rather they learning how to pole dance in preperation for dancing at stip joints, why not learn to do good Hip Hop dancing for I am sure some regulars on JT have taken up Hip Hop dancing? Then no one would be dominating a pole & others waiting their turn.

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Pole dancing is great.....

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bamboohat: Excuse me, Ms. Pole Dancer, I'd like to introudce myself, but before I do, I need to ask you a question. PD: Hai. BH: What do you have going for you BESIDES your looks? PD: uh, um ... er.. um... BH: sou to omotta. ja, ne

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Yes,pole- and lap-dancing classes,tattoos and the wearing of thongs - symbols of the modern sexually liberated woman who doesn't like middle-aged men looking at her on the subway...

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Westurn:

huh ??? Try this on fer size... from wikipedia:

"Pole dancing is a form of dancing/gymnastics. It involves dancing sensually with a vertical pole and is often used in strip clubs and gentlemen's clubs, although more recently artistic pole dancing (Chinese poles) is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment."

Yeah, and reading further in this article, it says:

"In a strip club setting, pole dancing is often performed less gymnastically and combined with striptease, and/or lap dancing between performers."

And according to Wikipedia:

"The origins of striptease as a performance art are disputed and various dates and occasions have been given from ancient Babylonia to twentieth century America."

"Lap dancing clubs are a development of the earlier strip clubs, in which strippers danced on stage and were paid a wage. In the 1970s, New York's Melody Theater introduced audience participation. The Melody Theater became the Harmony Theater and operated in two locations in Manhattan for over 20 years until it was closed down in 1998. In 1980, San Francisco's Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre changed its policy so that customers could have dancers come to sit naked on their laps for a $1 tip. The practice quickly spread.[2] It suited club owners, because it brought in more customers and it meant they had to pay less to the dancers. Sitting on customers' laps evolved into lap dancing."

So what started out as a mere gymnastics exercise, turned into something more in countries such as the U.S.

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All it is... Some sleazy strip club owners wanted to find a way to recruit new dancers so he started the pole dancing "fitness" classes. Every once in a while they will slip by... cheak out the talent... and scout. Maybe these girls will be seen at a kurabu near you!

But seriously if you take this up as a fitness... man there is a word that I can use to describe you but I would never be allowed to post again...

Ever heard of a gym?

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They are even wearing heels?!? They just need some paying customers.

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Freakashow...

"So what started out as a mere gymnastics exercise, turned into something more in countries such as the U.S."

But it didn't originate in the USA (as your post clearly indicates) nor has it been "mainstreamed" enough to be termed a fad ! A few gyms offering classes in NY is hardly a nationwide fad or craze ! Cripes get a grip folks ! And most of all focus your posts on the subject at hand... which, once again, isn't America !

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Pole dancing is degrading and humiliating... unless done in total seclusion !

Uh, no ... I don't see how pole dancing is more degrading than stripping or lap dancing; especially when most pole dancers are doing it with more clothes on than in stripping, and with no physical contact with another human being, as in lap dancing.

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Freakashow... good then we agree !

"Uh, no ... I don't see how pole dancing is more degrading than stripping or lap dancing"

I never said it was ! Pole dancing in public forums is as degrading as stripping and lap dances ! You wanna do any of the 3 for exercise... good for you ! Just do it in the privacy of your home... alone !

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People seem to forget that there is really just one reason why these women do pole dancing - because it's fun! And also, they do it in a fitness club, not in a club or strip bar. Sure, you can speculate all you want, but this is what the photo shows, nothing more, nothing less.

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love pole dancing its fun fun.

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