You know when there is a recession… (or one brewing up)…

When the Japanese ‘Entertainment Industry’ ;) goes through a downturn.

“Naturally the rise in oil prices will impact on the sex business,” remarks analyst Takashi Kadokura, who for over a decade has specialized in researching Japan’s underground economy. “At ‘soaplands’ and fashion health massage shops, increases in fixed costs like electricity and gas will have to be passed on to customers.”

Take the price of the Type-A heavy oil used to fire the water boilers at soaplands, which Kadokura notes has leaped upwards from 66 yen a liter at the start of 2007 to around 80 yen a liter by November. As a result, many soaplands have boosted their admittance fees.

The true effect of peak oil! :)