In today’s social media–driven world, it can feel like a new meme and “enjo” scandal appear every day to rage-bait us into clicks and views.
One of the more recent examples in Japan was a video in January of a hostess and a client at an expensive sushi restaurant, arguing with the owner about their order. It ended with the hostess and client (who was the one filming the video) leaving the restaurant and staff having to hold back the owner from attempting a physical assault.
So much for omotenashi.
The trouble between the owner and the couple apparently arose because the client was filming and because the hostess rather fussily asked them to move a glass of wine.
The video swiftly gained millions of views — and then was largely forgotten.
During the height of the viral attention, the woman was soon identified as Mio, a mononymous hostess who works at the club Jungle Tokyo in Roppongi, and who has since made amends with the restaurant owner over the argument.
She has also belatedly now opted to exploit her fame by posing for a gravure shoot in a weekly. The semi-nude shoot in Shukan Taishu really shows off her slinky body.
Can she ride the notoriety and viral success to launch a whole new career in gravure?
Well, she’s already top hostess so surely doesn’t need the dough. In fact, gravure idols don’t earn that much money unless they make it big. The agency will take a large chunk and probably the only lucrative gigs are cover shoots in the major weeklies, and print photo books if they gain enough of a following. Most supplement their income with event gigs and even compensated dating.
This case of a viral video and a slightly notorious woman attempting to move into gravure reminds us of Miwa Hagashimori, who briefly tried the same thing after she found unexpected fame in a video.
