In Tokyo's bustling Ikebukuro district, the Muscle Girls bar buzzes with cheers. Behind the U-shaped bar, dozens of women in athletic attire flex their muscular physiques, using their bare hands to crush grapefruits for drinks.
Opened in mid-2020, this unique bar has become a popular destination, attracting around 100 customers daily, mostly foreigners and young people seeking unconventional experiences.
For 6,000 yen (approximately one million VND) for 80 minutes, patrons enjoy unlimited drinks and watch staff perform pull-ups and pole dances. For an additional charge, guests can experience special services, such as being lifted high by the women's thighs or receiving a slap to the cheek to "wake up".
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Female staff members showcase their muscles at the Muscle Girls bar in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: REUTERS |
Hitomi Harigae, 38, the bar's manager, notes that Japanese society traditionally values women with a slender and delicate physique. However, customers here seek a different kind of energy. "Since accepting my muscular body, I feel much more confident," Harigae stated. For her, the bar is not just a business but also fosters sisterhood, a place where everyone shares a passion for training and diet.
The existence of Muscle Girls challenges traditional aesthetic norms. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japan has the highest proportion of underweight adult women among developed nations, at approximately 9%. Experts have warned that an obsession with thinness is leading to malnutrition among many young women.
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A male customer is lifted into the air by two female staff members. Photo: REUTERS |
However, this perception is gradually changing. A 2023 survey by Dentsu Soken revealed that the percentage of people who believe in traditional gender stereotypes has decreased to 38,2%.
"Female beauty is not solely about being thin," shared Yuka Moriya, a staff member who joined the bar in 2023. She hopes that more people will come to appreciate the beauty of strength and muscles.
Minh Phuong (According to Reuters)
