This is an excellent documentary that brings you deep into the lives of male hosts in the Japanese city Osaka, who sell dreams to paying rich female customers. A very indepth exploration of these pretty boys who, while boasting about how much they earn, also admit that they do feel confused and numb about their feelings playing lover/confidant/business partner to their customers.

It's actually a very sad thing to see how empty these people feel inside, that lonliness and that yearning for some afirmation and fulfilment, even though most of them are well aware that it is all a big lie - hosts and customers alike.

I was quite surprised when the documentary came to the part where their customers revealed that they were either hostess or even prostitutes themselves. But then again, it is only people like this who can actually earn that kind of money to be able to splurge on hosts (apparently they can spend like US$10, 000 a night!!!). In fact, because of the nature of their work, many admit that by buying a dream of being loved by someone, it makes them feel complete. It is also very shocking to hear how all these customers just get sucked so deep into this dream that they are practically living it.

It just makes you think about how city live has turned city-dwellers into such emotional wrecks.
These hosts obviously make big money, but that kind of emotional and physical toll it brings, I really wonder how they can survive day by day.

The Great Happiness Space Documentary 2007

The documentary is 1 hr and 15 min long, so you may want to let it load while you do other stuff before coming back to view it in one shot. But it really is worth the wait. A very well-made, raw and emotional insight into this lesser known but looked-down upon occupation.