A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

Just one more thing on meat (or flesh)…

In North America, is it common practice that waitresses in restaurants dress sexily?

I have heard about HOOTERS where waiting staff are dressed in revealing costume, and I thought it was a special, theme-park-like entertainment aiming at mainly spoony male customers. But when I went to some restaurants, which were either on a guidebook or recommended by the front clerk (male, incidentally) of the hotel we stayed, the female waitstaff there were all dressed as if they were engaged in another profession (the boys there were also dressed to impress—but not so Chippendales). The boy at the front desk or the guidebook did not mention about that at all. Did they thought I was a man, or is it so common that they no longer especially mention or warn about it?

The restaurant itself looked very normal, similar to our Royal Host, or bit more upmarket than RH, and by no means looked like a nightclub. Many families and groups of women were having their meals peacefully. And the menu looked reasonably priced (did not seem to include the special fee for the sexy waitresses). I think most of the diners were local, which means the restaurant was not meant to tourists who don’t know about the local dining scene and are ready to be ripped off. Everything looked very normal—except for the girls serving meals in black body-hugging, super low-cut, ultra-mini dresses and 9-inch heels. They handled us, alien customers who do not know any local rules, in a professional manner, unlike spoilt young girls dressing like them in Japan.  They always smiled at us though I must have rudely stared at them. They offered many thoughtful suggestions that we couldn’t expect in the similar restaurants here in Japan. They understood how little we eat and even offered to split everything we ordered into two plates when I asked an extra plate to share a dish. So as the whole, my dining experience there was comfortable and pleasant.

I am not a particular type of person who insists that dressing revealingly degrades women. Actually, if I were (20 or more years) younger and confident enough, I would show off my eye-catching figure and radiant skin as much as possible, which I think is a privilege of being young woman.   I wonder, however, who would benefit from the sexy outfits in this particular setting.  The girls are exposed to risk of falling, bunions, and unexpected cut or burn whereas male customers have to be self-conscious to look “civilised,” and female customers have to wonder where to look. If they were fully covered and wearing flat shoes, and tied their hair, they would look even more professional and attractive, and I would feel at ease in terms of food hygiene (In fact, I felt nervous about whether their long loose hair got dipped in my ice cream).

…By the way, do you think 18 per cent tip was too small for their service and costume?

Stray deers

Prairie dogs (?) living in roadside greenbelts

A hare in a parking lot        

Small creatures following their guradians