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[emypie]

I've been reading two Japan guide books these days, and have gotten some very different information regarding 'kissaten'.

Time Out Tokyo had this to say:

"The straight couple's universe has an interesting sexual expression in Japan as well. The couples' kissaten (literally, coffee shop) is a scene that straddles the line between swinging and exhibitionism. Couples visit dimly lit clubs... and engage in sex with their partner, or other members of the club... in general admittance is limited to couples... but foursomes are not unusual either."

Fodor's Exploring Japan, however, had a different definition.

"Japanese coffee shops (kissaten) are one of the country's best discoveries. They pride themselves on serving exquisite coffee and on providing a first-class sound system, playing jazz, classical rock and other music. A cup of coffee is relatively expensive, but once you have ordered you can stay for as long as you wish. Kissaten frequently offer a good breakfast; as for 'morning service' in English..."

So.... does the sexual definition from Time Out only apply in Tokyo, where 'kissaten' functions as sort of a code word for a swinger's bar? Is it like how in Amsterdam a 'coffee shop' serves a lot more than just coffee?

[wintersweet]

A "couples' kissaten" is apparently not the same thing as a normal "kissaten," which is indeed just a coffeeshop.

[jesszilla]

'kissaten' just means 'coffee shop' or 'tea shop', and can be safely taken to mean that. However, the shortened word has been appropriated in the expressions 'couples kissa', which is essentially a swingers club, and 'manga kissa', which is usually a comic book/internet cafe. There are probably a few more variations on the term besides that.

Incidentally, 'couples kissa' are also called 'happening clubs'. There are many innocuous-seeming euphemisms for adult-themed entertainment in Japan. Try Googling 'image club', 'pink salon', or 'fashion health' with 'Japan', and you'll find out more than you probably want to know

[shuize]

"De-ai kissaten" or, more commonly, "de-ai kissa" is another that springs to mind.

[Like a Rolling Stone]

I was reading this book by Ian Buruma called a japanese mirror. He talks about the nopan kissa and some of the 'research' he did. �΂��I