TOKYO — Love Joule, a new bar that has opened in Tokyo, made news this week as the first female-focused love and sex bar where sex toys line the shelves instead of liquor bottles.
In a Huffington Post article, Love Joule proprietor Megumi Nakagawa discusses the venue’s purpose.
"Once they take a seat, customers are able to experience a pleasant place in which they can openly discuss masturbation,” Nakagawa said. “Since most people view female masturbation as something of a mystery or taboo, it is not a usual topic at typical bars.”
According the reports, Love Joule has already established a following among the local burgeoning adult industry — starlets Nayuka Mine and model Sayo Hayakawa are among its famed customers.
According to reports, average women in Japan also are increasingly embracing their sexuality. Huff Post quotes Ikuko Ikeshita a doctor with the Ikeshita Ladies’ Clinic as he describes the change in acceptance over the years.
“There has been a movement to do away with the stigma surrounding female masturbation in Japan, pointing to the increase in websites discussing female sexuality and stores selling female sex goods,” Ikeshita said.
Love Joule has a policy prohibiting single men from entering, and men are only welcome if they are accompanied by a woman. The resulting environment is one that encourages open communication among women.
A Love Joule patron tells the blog Bikyamasr.com: “I go because it is a safe place and I don’t have to worry about trying to brush off men all the time. Add in that it is also a great place to drink and talk about what we women love to talk about, sex and guys, that’s also a big pull."
