The Intimate Relationship with "My Guest": Case Studies on Filipino Karaoke Bar Girls and their relationships between Japanese Guests in the Philippines

IR (HANDLE) Open Access

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • <論文>「私のお客さん」と築く親密性 --フィリピン、M市のカラオケパブの事例から

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Description

Taking the case of a Japanese karaoke bar (JKTV: Japanese Karaoke TV) in Metro Manila, which is one of the most popular sex-related industries in the region, this article examines the intimate relationship constructed through market exchange by the Filipino karaoke bar girls and their Japanese guests in the Philippines. Previous studies demonstrated that the use of money as a means of social exchange would lead to the destruction of social bond. Recently, some sociologists objected to this idea, arguing that the use of money as a means of social exchange is not solely focused on the trade of fixedvalue commodities, but it also includes the process where the value and content of the commodity/ service in question are negotiated during the course of exchange, especially among the persons with intimate relationships. However, these objections are based on the well-established concept of "intimate sphere" as opposed to "public sphere." This paper investigates the quality of relationships constructed between Filipino sex workers and their (predominantly male-Japanese) guests at one JKTV located in one of the most famous red-light districts in Metro Manila. Whether this relationship can still be regarded only as a fixed-value trade, is one of the major inquiries of this research. In such situations, expressions of intimacy do not always turn out to be 'performed' (therefore 'fake' and 'commoditized') ones. The encounter between a Filipino karaoke bar 'girl' and a Japanese 'guest' at a JKTV can spark a specific relationship from the moment the 'guest' requests his favorite girl. They can share fun, romantic and even sensual attitude that lasts within a specific time duration.

Journal

  • Contact zone

    Contact zone 11 (2019), 95-121, 2019-08-31

    京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科 文化人類学分野

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1050564288434065280
  • NII Article ID
    120006719359
  • NII Book ID
    AA12260795
  • ISSN
    21885974
  • HANDLE
    2433/243975
  • Text Lang
    ja
  • Article Type
    departmental bulletin paper
  • Data Source
    • IRDB
    • CiNii Articles

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