Top hostess Himeka wins lawsuit from client

The top hostess Himeka has spoken out about her current feelings after winning a lawsuit in which a former male client had sought ¥38.5 million in damages from her.

“There were times when I was filled with despair,” she said of her experience during the trial.

Himeka (also known as Himeka Nakamoto), who currently works at a club in Osaka and is famous for her high-earning hostess lifestyle, was sued by a former client in March last year.

Kakeru Kikuchi, the former CEO of a venture capital firm that went bankrupt, made various accusations of “romance and marriage fraud” on social media and in court, demanding ¥38.5 million yen in damages. He claims that Himeka’s “pretense” of romance persuaded him to shower her with money or gifts, or spend a lot at her club with enticements of a genuine relationship. Kikuchi claims he thought they were going to get married.

However, the case concluded with a ruling in Osaka in February that threw out Kikuchi’s claim. The victory will no doubt pleasure hostesses and similar kinds of establishments based on so-called affective labor. The case was a potential litmus test for whether the allure of romance and affection offered at hostess clubs could stand up in court. In other words, if Himeka had lost the suit, it might have opened the floodgates for various other lawsuits in the future from aggrieved customers.

“Honestly, it was incredibly long, lasting a year and a half. Now, finally, I feel rewarded. I feel like I’ve conveyed something to everyone,” Himeka said on the TV show Last Call.

“There were so many things I wanted to say and explain during that time, but even if I said them then, people wouldn’t believe me, or they wouldn’t understand. There were times when I was filled with despair, wanting to end it all.”

The 25-year-old admitted that the road to victory was mentally taxing, but she revealed her true feelings, saying, “Now that the result is in, I feel relieved and rewarded.”

Himeka was due to publish a book last year but its release was canceled. The lawsuit may been the reason for this.

Afterward, Himeka updated her Instagram, writing about “three things” she wanted to convey after the recent turmoil.

The first was about the reality of working in the nightlife industry.

She warned, “Please don’t think of this world as just a glamorous place.” She pointed out that high income and valuable experiences are possible, though added a caveat. “You can meet people you wouldn’t normally meet, have experiences you wouldn’t normally have, and earn incomes you wouldn’t normally get. But there’s always a reason for it, and there’s a price to pay.”

“It’s a world where you’re constantly surrounded by danger and temptation, and sometimes you can stray far from a normal life. That’s why I want you to understand that reality before you step into this world.”

But hasn’t someone like Himeka been responsible for promoting the glamorous side of being a hostess? She is conscious of this and offered an apology for the skewed view of hostessing she has promoted through her social media posts in the past. “I take responsibility. I’m sorry,” she wrote. But unless she quits hostessing or stops posting any pics in which she looks glamorous, this apology may ultimately ring hollow.

Secondly, she addressed online defamation, an issue also faced by female celebrities and even digital characters.

“Words leave a deeper impression on people’s hearts than you might imagine,” she said, pointing out the potential for even a casual remark to hurt someone deeply. “Online, there’s a mix of truth and lies. And in reality, some people have their lives destroyed by words. Words spoken lightly can weigh heavily on someone’s life. I want you to remember that,” she urged.

Thirdly, she sent a message to those suffering from online defamation, just like herself. “The online world isn’t everything. It’s not the only thing in your world. What’s truly important are the people who support you and the life you have ahead of you,” she emphasized.

“Social media is only one part of life. And rumors and opinions about people are forgotten much faster than you think. So don’t give up on your life because of social media. Whatever happened in the past doesn’t mean your life is over. Circumstances change. You can change your life. That’s why you need to be strong.”

Himeka starting working as a hostess at the age of 18 at Club Reims, which was opened by hostess-turned-businesswoman Shingeki no Noa (Minori Maeda) in Osaka. She also made her gravure debut and published a digital photo book in 2023.